KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon says the state and regional economies can benefit from Missouri's push into biotechnology and the life sciences.

Nixon spoke Monday to about 300 scientists and business people at the two-day Missouri Regional Life Sciences Summit at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Nixon said Missouri is already home to 4,000 agribusiness and life science companies, which he called an "enormous asset" that can be leveraged through public policies and private support.

Sen. Kit Bond also spoke, calling western Missouri the heart of the animal health industry. The Missouri Republican says the industry can play a key role in helping replace jobs being lost in the current economy.