It was founded in December 1907 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison as the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) and is now based in St. Joseph, Michigan.
[citation needed] For many years, the discipline had broadened to include engineering for biological systems, and the name change simply reflected this reality.
The increase in biological engineering led to a number of breakthroughs that greatly affected the global agriculture system of modern society.
Genetically modified organisms for instance have led to massive overhauls in food production, logistics and trade.
The society's committee on licensure maintains and enhances the professionalism of the members of ASABE by providing services related to the national Principles and Practices Examination (PE Exam) for agricultural and biological engineering.