[FE1055] Economic Contributions of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Food Industries in Florida in 2016

Collectively, the agriculture, natural resources, and food industries are significant contributors to the economy of the state of Florida. The economic contributions of these industries were evaluated for calendar year 2016 to update previous reports from the Economic Impact Analysis Program and to provide current information for the purpose of informed public policy. This analysis covers a broad array of activities including commodity production, manufacturing, distribution, and supporting services associated with agriculture and food as well as natural-resources management. Economic contributions are measured in terms of employment, industry output, value added, exports, labor income, other property income, and business taxes. In 2016, the agriculture, natural resource, and food industries supported 2.294 million full-time and part-time jobs (including multiplier effects in other sectors), representing 19.9 percent of the state workforce and supported contributed $137.23 billion in total valued added, representing 14.7 percent of Gross State Product. During the ten year period of 2007 to 2016, direct employment in Florida’s agriculture, natural resources, and food industries increased by 26.3 percent, or an average annual rate of 2.9 percent (9 years change), and total value added contributions grew by 23.3 percent, or 2.6 percent annually, in inflation adjusted terms