Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

What Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering does

Iowa State University's Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) is an academic department jointly administered by the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, located in Ames, Iowa, with a secondary research facility in Boone, Iowa at the BioCentury Research Farm. ABE delivers four undergraduate majors (Agricultural Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Agricultural Systems Technology, Industrial Technology) and two graduate programs (MS/PhD in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; MS/PhD in Industrial and Agricultural Technology), enrolling students who go on to careers in agricultural equipment, food processing, bio-based industries, water resources, and occupational safety. The department employs 43 faculty and staff and is supported by tuition, state appropriations, research grants, and private donations including a significant gift from Danfoss Power Solutions.

Research at ABE is organized into five focus areas — Advanced Machinery Engineering and Manufacturing Systems, Animal Production Systems Engineering, Biological and Process Engineering and Technology, Land and Water Resources Engineering, and Occupational Safety Engineering — and is supported by specialized facilities including the Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Laboratory (one of few public facilities capable of testing large off-highway vehicles up to 450 kW per corner), the Water Quality Research Laboratory, and the Safety Training Instruction and Research Center. ABE also operates an External Advisory Council (since 1965) with representation from major agricultural equipment manufacturers (John Deere, CNH, Caterpillar, AGCO, CLAAS, Vermeer, etc.) and broader life-sciences employers (Tyson, Cargill, Smithfield, Iowa Select Farms), feeding graduates into agriculture, manufacturing, and protein-processing industries.

ABE's business model is a hybrid academic revenue stack: tuition (with master's assistantships at $2,500/month minimum effective Fall 2026 and doctoral tuition scholarships), sponsored research grants and contracts, state appropriations, and private donations. Distribution occurs through Iowa State's central admissions, registrar, and extension infrastructure including MidWest Plan Service and Global Resources. The department markets to prospective students through its departmental website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, while employer engagement flows through the External Advisory Council and direct faculty-industry research partnerships. Quantitative outcomes reported by the department include 97% positive career outcomes and average starting salaries above $70,000 for Industrial Technology graduates, plus a fluid power program training approximately 200 students per year under faculty such as Dr. Brian Steward, who has secured more than $6.8M in grants and produced 250+ technical publications.

Name

Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Legal name

Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Website

https://abe.iastate.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Iowa State University's Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is an academic unit jointly administered by the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, offering four undergraduate and two graduate programs in agricultural, biological, and industrial engineering and technology, with research across machinery, water resources, and safety.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111), Engineering Services (541330), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Irrigation Systems & Water Management (Ag) (EDAOAOAG), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD), Crop, Soil & Agronomy Technician Training (EDAOAOAF)

Keywords

• Agricultural engineering education
• Biosystems engineering research
• Precision agriculture research
• Off-highway vehicle testing
• Water quality research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public university department funded through student tuition, state appropriations, research grants, and donations. Graduate students may receive assistantships with stipends.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Faculty and department generate revenue through externally funded research grants and contracts from government agencies and industry partners.
3. Private Donations: The department receives private donations and support, such as from Danfoss Power Solutions for the Dyno Lab facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The department delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in agricultural engineering, biological systems engineering, agricultural systems technology, and industrial technology. It operates specialized research facilities including the Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Laboratory, Water Quality Research Laboratory, and Safety Training Instruction and Research Center, conducting funded research across five focus areas: Advanced Machinery Engineering, Animal Production Systems, Biological and Process Engineering, Land and Water Resources, and Occupational Safety Engineering.

Product overview

Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering offers a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of four undergraduate majors (Agricultural Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Agricultural Systems Technology, and Industrial Technology), two graduate programs (Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering MS/PhD and Industrial and Agricultural Technology MS/PhD), and operates specialized research laboratories including the Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Laboratory, Water Quality Research Laboratory, and Safety Training Instruction and Research Center. The department organizes research across five focus areas: Advanced Machinery Engineering and Manufacturing Systems, Animal Production Systems Engineering, Biological and Process Engineering and Technology, Land and Water Resources Engineering, and Occupational Safety Engineering. The department provides both educational programs and research facilities to the agriculture and biosystems industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agricultural Engineering An undergraduate engineering major that prepares students to design vehicles and systems for producing crops and animals more efficiently while safeguarding soil and water resources and animal wellbeing.
• Biological Systems Engineering An undergraduate engineering major that uses biology and engineering to protect natural resources and develop sustainable food and biological processing technologies.
• Agricultural Systems Technology An undergraduate major that prepares students to manage and improve crop and animal production operations using smart technology, machinery, and systems.
• Industrial Technology An undergraduate major that prepares students to lead and improve operations in manufacturing, bio-based industries, and safety by managing people, processes, and technology.
• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Graduate Program Graduate program offering MS and PhD degrees in agricultural and biosystems engineering with research focus areas including advanced machinery, animal production systems, biological processing, land and water resources, and occupational safety.
• Industrial and Agricultural Technology Graduate Program Graduate program offering MS and PhD degrees focused on industrial education and technology, preparing students for leadership in manufacturing, bio-based industries, and vocational education.
• Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Laboratory A state-of-the-art dynamometer facility at the BioCentury Research Farm offering capabilities for developmental vehicle testing and research, testing vehicles up to 450 kW (600 Hp) per corner at speeds up to 80 km/h (50 mph). One of few public facilities capable of testing large construction and farm machinery.
• Water Quality Research Laboratory (WQRL) Research laboratory focused on soil and water quality, nonpoint source pollution control, watershed management, and water quality monitoring, studying nutrients, pathogens, and antibiotic-resistant microbes.
• Safety Training Instruction and Research Center (STIR) Research and training center focused on injury and loss prevention tools, behaviors, and strategies within the Occupational Safety Engineering focus area, covering safety and public health issues and risk analysis and management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% positive career outcomes for Industrial Technology graduates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ISU College of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe department is jointly administered by the College of Engineering and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, providing interdisciplinary connections and unique academic programs.
• ISU College of Agriculture and Life SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly administers the department with the College of Engineering, providing resources and academic connections across agricultural and engineering disciplines.
• External Advisory CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe department has an External Advisory Council with representation from industry that has been established since 1965. Members include representatives from major agricultural equipment manufacturers and related industries.
• Center for Crops Utilization ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center connected to the department focused on crops utilization, supporting biological and process engineering research activities.
• Seed Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISU center providing research collaboration and resources for biological systems engineering research related to seed technology and quality.
• Global Food Security ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational consortium focused on global food security research, connected to biological systems engineering research programs.
• US Quality Grains Research ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch consortium focused on grain quality research, partnered through the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative.
• Iowa Grain Quality InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative providing extension services and research support for grain quality, connected to ISU Grain Quality Laboratory.
• ISU Grain Quality LaboratorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory providing grain quality testing and research services, supporting biological and process engineering research.
• Center for Sustainable Rural LivelihoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter focused on sustainable rural development, connected to biological systems engineering research programs.
• Agricultural Drainage Research GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch group focused on agricultural water management and drainage, connected to Land and Water Resources Engineering research (agwatermgmt.ae.iastate.edu).
• Genomics and Environmental Research in Microbial Systems (GERMS) LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch laboratory focused on microbial systems and environmental genomics, supporting land and water resources research (germslab.org).
• ABE/Agronomy Research FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch farm providing field research facilities for agricultural engineering and agronomy research (farms.ag.iastate.edu).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Midwest Big Ten ABE department with overlapping research in machinery systems, soil and water, and bioprocessing; competes for faculty hiring and federal grants in the same priority areas.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Neighboring land-grant BSE department with comparable programs in irrigation, machinery, and biomedical/bioprocessing — overlapping geographic student catchment and water-resource research priorities.
• Michigan State University Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering: Land-grant BAE department offering nearly identical program structure (machinery, soil/water, bioprocessing, safety) and competing for the same Midwest student population and industry partnerships.
• Purdue University Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Peer land-grant ABE department offering undergraduate and graduate programs spanning machinery systems, soil and water, and biological engineering — direct competitor for students, faculty, and industry-sponsored research.
• The Ohio State University Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Big Ten FABE department with parallel programs in agricultural engineering, construction systems, and bioprocessing; comparable faculty research output and industry partner mix.
• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences - Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Land-grant ABE department with similar research platforms in machinery, bioprocessing, and water quality; direct competitor for USDA grants and ag-industry recruiting pipelines.
• Texas A&M University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering: Closest analog in scale and scope among southern land-grant universities; offers biological and agricultural engineering programs with similar focus on machinery, water, bioprocessing, and food engineering research.
• University of California, Davis Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering: West coast BAEN department with similarly broad research in bioprocessing, aquacultural engineering, and environmental engineering; peer for faculty recruitment and federal-grant competition.
• University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering: Upper-midwest BBE department covering bioproducts, bioprocessing, and environmental engineering; closely aligned research scope with ISU ABE's biological and process engineering focus area.
• Cornell University Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering: Jointly administered between engineering and agriculture colleges — a near-analogous administrative structure to ISU ABE — with research overlap in bioprocessing, water, and environmental engineering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISU_ABE
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISUABE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-state-university-department-of-agricultural-and-biosystems-engineering
• Instagraminstagram.com/isu_abe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering