Digging Deeper...

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Kansas State University is emerging as the world’s foremost location for global food systems and bio-security innovations. It is also a premier economic driver for the state of Kansas. The growth of federal, state and private sector infrastructure and talent asset acquisition over the past decade has positioned K-State, and the region, as undisputed leaders. Rollout of a new initiative – Innovation Centers for Grain, Food, Animal and Agronomy Research – will solidify the position.  

Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: Terry Holdren, CEO, Kansas Farm Bureau; Kansas State University, College of Agriculture: Ernie Minton, Ph.D., Dean; Kerry Wefald, Senior Director of Development; Jason Ellis, Ph.D., Head, Department of Communications and Agricultural Education

 

Center of the Global Food Universe

Proposed facility infrastructure and curriculum developments at Kansas State University College of Agriculture, along with the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility’s imminent commissioning next year, will put the state of Kansas and Kansas State University squarely at center stage of global agriculture science, food animal production and food processing. “Every day we put our hands and minds together,” says the College of Agriculture, “to work on better ways to achieve sustainability, feed billions, build agribusinesses and improve lives with thoughtful, well researched use of plants and animals.” A new initiative – the Innovation Centers for Grain, Food, Animal and Agronomy Research – will surely expedite K-State’s ascendancy toward that goal.

But global leadership isn’t new for the College of Agriculture. The school was selected to lead four of the nation’s 21 Feed the Future Innovations Labs that draw on the ability of top U.S. universities and developing countries’ research institutions to tackle some of the world’s greatest agricultural and food security challenges. K-State led teams to focus on wheat genomics, sorghum and millet, reduction of post-harvest loss, and sustainable intensification.

Speaking of leadership, Richard Linton’s appointment as president of Kansas State University last year is both prescient and practical as it relates to implementing K-State’s Innovation Centers enterprise.  Dr. Linton is strongly connected to land-grant institutions, which is one of the reasons why he applied to become the next president of K-State. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology, master's degree in food science and doctorate in food science from Virginia Tech. From 1994-2011, he was a food science faculty member, director and founder of the Center for Food Safety Engineering and associate director of agricultural research programs at Purdue University. He served as department chair of food science and technology at The Ohio State University from 2011-2012 and as dean of North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“Richard Linton has proven himself as a forward-thinking leader who knows how to seize opportunities in higher education’s rapidly evolving landscape,” said Regent Cheryl Harrison-Lee, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. “He shares the Regents’ strategic vision of higher education as a powerful force uniquely capable of revitalizing our economy. We are excited to have him as president of K-State and watch him lead the university into the future.”

Recipe For The Future

The Innovation Centers’ blueprint calls for several facility renovations as well as the relocation of Shellenberger Hall – the milling, baking, and feed science building – between Call and Weber Halls. This will improve the technology needed, says Dr. Ernie Minton, dean of the College of Agriculture. “What we hope to do is really stimulate an even greater degree of multidisciplinary collaboration.”

The impetus behind this endeavor is a 3:1 funding match set up by the state of Kansas. If the university raises $75 million in private gifts, lawmakers in Topeka will consider awarding the college $25 million – over and above a recent allocation of $25 million. The deadline for raising the qualifying funds was extended to mid-December. As of late November, KSU’s Ag College had raised $55.5 million toward the goal.

“We believe we will have the funds by the deadline,” a spokesperson for the College of Agriculture noted.  “While the change in date gives K-State additional time to apply to acquire state funds, it does not really change anything about the College of Agriculture’s needs or the anticipated positive impacts these projects will help create.”

At the moment optimism reigns. But Kansas Farm Bureau CEO Terry Holdren suggests keeping the cork in the champagne bottle for the time being. The grant funding program is still a competitive funding process, he explains, meaning the grant is awarded based on the merits of the application. “Competitive grants are discretionary,” he says, “and if the granting agency doesn’t like any of the proposal’s components, it is not legally obligated to award a grant at all.” However, Holdren maintains that once pledges reach $75 million, the Sunflower State’s agriculture industry is primed to make its case for the matching grant.

Certainly, the timeline to raise the matching funds has been aggressive, says the college. “But we are used to overcoming challenges,” school officials and staff explain. “We began developing strategic plans for similar infrastructure projects prior to COVID, but with the pandemic our plans were delayed. We are focused on the here and now though, this is a unique opportunity with these matching funds, and where it can take the College of Agriculture – its researchers, faculty and students – into the future.”

Ag Industry Support

Agriculture is the largest economic engine in the state generating more than $70 billion into the state’s economy, and, according to Holdren, numerous ag businesses, organizations and associations have formed coalitions that intend to lobby strenuously.  Kansas Farm Bureau recently underscored its advocacy for KSU’s Innovation Centers for Grain, Food, Animal and Agronomy Research initiative with a $5 million pledge over five years – the largest donation in KFB history.

“We’ve known for a long time that the facilities at the country’s first operational land grant institution needed updating,” said outgoing KFB president Rich Felts at KFB’s annual meeting earlier this month. “We’re excited to come alongside Dr. Richard Linton and others to make an investment in our industry, our state and future K-State students to ensure the university is a global leader in agriculture.”

One College of Agriculture official said, “The Kansas Department of Commerce will evaluate the proposal for the qualifying funds, and we hope they will get back to us by the end of the calendar year. Our understanding is that other universities will submit proposals for their own projects, but we are confident in our proposal for these infrastructure projects and the future of the K-State College of Agriculture.”

 

What’s the Plan?

Source: Kansas State University Foundation  

It is important to know that Kansas State University is a land grant university with associated leadership expectations in food, agriculture and natural resources. Moreover, Kansas is a top-10 agricultural state in the United States as measured by the most recent Census of Agriculture’s “Value of Agricultural Products Sold”. The Department of Grain Science and Industry at K-State offers degree programs that are one-of-a-kind globally serving the global milling, baking, animal and pet food industries. The Department of Animal Sciences and Industry boasts the largest number of undergraduate majors among academic departments at K-State.

Launching the Innovation Centers for Grain, Food, Animal and Agronomy Research calls for the creation of signature research and innovation partnership centers that will attract additional corporate enterprises as partners. These innovative facilities and program evolutions will harness K-State’s unique strengths in:

  • Grain science and industry

  • Animal/food sciences

  • Innovation in precision agriculture

These inter-related projects will diversify Kansas’ value-added food and agricultural economy, expand growth in the state’s top economic sectors, and support key pillars of K-State’s Economic Prosperity Plan by attracting businesses to the state throughout the entire value-added food chain.

How It’s Structured

The infrastructure of this project – both in its configuration and its functionality – will capitalize on collaboration between university scientists and embedded industry partners. Beyond elevating activities within K-State’s top-ranked College of Agriculture the innovation centers will draw the brightest minds from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine.

Target Outcomes

  • Economic growth: Strengthen corporate attraction, job creation, entrepreneurship and the resilience and economic viability of Kansas’ agriculture industry sector.

  • A specialized workforce: Increase the number of undergrad and graduate degree holders across broad food system and agricultural disciplines, as well as micro-credentialing for the existing agriculture sector workforce.

  • Expanded research funding: Increase large, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional awards in support of research, innovation deployment, extension service outreach and workforce training.

  • Public-private partnerships: Make K-State a model for public-private partnerships in food and agricultural systems innovation, including “hoteling” embedded private sector and federal research personnel in new and renovated facilities.

  • Research centers growth: Enhance existing and grow the number of major centers funded by NSF, USAID and other federal sources, further building K-State’s reputation, network and footprint in global food systems.

  • New solutions: Provide innovative production and business solutions for our Kansas stakeholders.

  • Industry growth: Increase student recruitment, adding to the talent pipeline serving the economic needs of the state. 

Expected Benefits

Research universities drive new discovery, knowledge and deployment of innovation. This, in turn, catalyzes economic development, job creation and industry resilience. With Kansas as the undisputed center of activity in creating next-generation agricultural technologies and practices, global agricultural companies will choose to locate in Kansas.