By Kelsey Stremel
Kansas State University is expanding its capacity to develop crops, technologies and management strategies to support producers from Kansas to the world with the opening of the L. Eldon Gideon Agronomy Research and Innovation Complex.
The new complex, which is on K-State's Agronomy North Farm, will help producers increase productivity, use water and nutrients more efficiently, and adapt to changing production conditions. It will bring together researchers, students and partners working in plant genetics, soils, water, cropping systems, precision agriculture and data in a connected research environment — linking laboratory discovery, advanced analysis and field-scale testing.
"K-State has a long history of conducting research that responds to the needs of Kansas agriculture," said Dan Moser, Eldon Gideon dean of K-State's College of Agriculture. "These facilities give our faculty, students and partners greater capacity to work across disciplines, evaluate new ideas and translate research into information, technologies and practices that can make a difference for producers."
The complex is part of K-State's $210 million Agriculture Innovation initiative, a universitywide investment supported by state and philanthropic funding to expand interdisciplinary research, teaching and engagement in food and agriculture.
For Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, interim head of K-State's Department of Agronomy, that ability to connect people and expertise is one of the most significant opportunities created by the investment.
Source : k-state.edu