MANHATTAN, KS — It was standing room only at Kansas State University (KSU)’s College of Agriculture’s groundbreaking celebration for its Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, a significant milestone of the university’s Ag Innovation Initiative, which includes upgrading aging facilities and developing an interdisciplinary approach to working with the baking and milling industry.

“The Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation fits into the vision by providing a state-of-the-art facility that will be an integral part of the College of Agriculture’s hub for Grain Science and Animal Science at K-State,” said Ernie Minton, PhD, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension during his opening remarks. “This multi-faceted initiative is part of an ambitious plan to make Kansas State University the next-generation land grand university — the example of what a land grant university should be in the 21st century.”

The center is the core facility for the college’s agricultural infrastructure initiative, which includes four new buildings, three remodeled spaces, two demolished buildings and a demolished livestock arena. The initiative will not only solidify the school’s reputation as a global grain science think tank but also contribute to solving some of the world’s most challenging food-related problems such as the growing issue of food insecurity.

“This is a $127 million investment, the largest of its kind for an academic building on this campus,” said Richard Linton, PhD, the university’s president. “There has never been a more complex, more meaningful project, I believe, at any land grant institution. These facilities are to support cutting-edge research and learning. We’ll have interdisciplinary lab spaces and areas dedicated to helping partnerships with our industry.”