ISU opens expanded seed center

AMES -- Iowa State University's Seed Science Center opened Tuesday a 5,000-square-foot addition at the corner of Wallace Drive and Osborn Road on the campus.

Namanga Ngongi, president of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa. was the keynote speaker, speaking on a Gates Foundation partnership working across the African continent to help millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger.

The $2 million expansion was made possible by an anonymous gift and will provide space for laboratories, staff and student offices, conference rooms and spaces for visiting scientists.

The addition will attract visiting researchers and permanent scientists to work at the center.

The Seed Science Center is already the largest comprehensive public seed laboratory in the United States, said Manjit Misra, director of the Seed Science Center, and professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and conducts tests that ensure the successful export of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of seed each year from the U.S.

Now, the center will have even more global appeal.

"This new addition will have the effect of taking Iowa State to the world and bringing the world to Iowa State," Misra said.

"One thing that is clear is that seed is very central to modern agriculture. We have so many exciting activities in food, fuel and fiber, and the world needs it." said Misra. "And seed is critical to making this happen."

The expansion will also be home to the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products.

BIGMAP provides science-based analysis of the risks and benefits of genetically modified plant and animal products. It also provides guidance and education to help safeguard consumers and the environment.

The addition to the center is constructed to allos leading seed and biosafety researchers worldwide to work together on global issues, Misra said.

''We are creating a facility where we will attract high-quality people and focus their energies on solving global problems." he added.

Private support to this project was made during Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, the university's $800 million comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Daugherty Maulsby is a Farm News staff writer from central Iowa. Reach her by e-mail at yettergirl@yahoo.com.