Construction has begun on the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The state-of-the-art research center is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, UNL and Nebraska Innovation Campus. The center will focus on the challenges and opportunities in agricultural innovation for the 21st century.

According to information provided by UNL, the center will focus on key research areas to address technology, tools and data in the agriculture industry, and to promote sustainable, resilient and highly efficient agriculture practices.

The National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture will be a US$160 million USDA laboratory. It is expected to double the USDA’s science and support staff presence at UNL. The first phase will feature 15,000 square feet of greenhouses and 10,000 square feet of headhouse space. It will connect to the Greenhouse Innovation Center at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The new greenhouse space will allow ARS to perform research on wheat, barley, sorghum, forage and bioenergy grasses, and other crops. “Research on how these plants respond to emerging pests and pathogens under a full range of environmental conditions will empower scientists to make cutting-edge discoveries with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry,” stated UNL in a news release.

Once fully completed, the agriculture research complex will function as a central hub for multidisciplinary experts, scientists and engineers who will collaborate with industry and producers to improve water and food security, increase the resilience of agricultural landscapes and enhance agricultural profitability.

“The complex problems we face today in the ag industry require unprecedented levels of collaboration to overcome. This facility will help us achieve that goal, aligning resources and magnifying impressive impacts on agriculture nationwide,” said UNL Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett. “This national center will become the model for excellence in ag-focused innovation.”

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