By Justin Whitmore
Michigan State University leadership hosted more than 100 stakeholders and friends of the university on May 14 to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated MSU Plant Science Research Greenhouse Complex.
Upgrades to the greenhouse complex, through a combination of renovations and additions, include state-of-the-art environmental controls and LED lighting configured to respond to varying external climate conditions. New greenhouses will allow Spartan scientists and students to conduct controlled experiments under a variety of growth, environmental and stress conditions.
“The challenges these upgraded greenhouse facilities will answer have only grown since we gathered here two years ago to break ground for this project,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “As the global population continues to rise, estimated to exceed 10 billion people in the next 50 years, we need to grow our food supply with no more land or water — perhaps even less — than we have today. Michigan State was built for this challenge. Few institutions in the world possess the breadth of knowledge, assets like these greenhouses and the sheer Spartan will to answer such daunting challenges.”
The updates at the greenhouses are supported, in part, by $53 million allocated by the Michigan legislature in July 2022 for upgrades to the greenhouse and the construction of a new dairy facility. MSU contributed $12 million to the greenhouse project, totaling $35 million in upgrades.
“I would like to thank our partners in Michigan's agricultural community, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan legislature for their bipartisan backing of this advancement of Michigan State’s research infrastructure,” said MSU Board of Trustees Chairperson Brianna T. Scott. “Our celebration today marks a significant step forward for the state’s collective commitment to Michigan’s agricultural industry, and it serves as another demonstration of the power of collaboration and community.”
Source : msu.edu