By: NATHAN STUEDLE
The University of Missouri is celebrating the opening of four new agricultural facilities designed to strengthen research, education and workforce development across the state. The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources officially opened the facilities October ninth, with investments supporting crop production, beef genetics, meat processing and Missouri's grape and wine industry. Projects include an upgraded Missouri Foundation Seed facility, improvements to the Grape and Wine Institute's Fermentation Center, and a new National Center for Applied Reproduction and Genomics.
The university also opened the 25,000-square-foot Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory, featuring classrooms, research facilities and expanded meat processing capabilities. College of Agriculture Dean, Christopher Daubert, says the projects represent a major investment in agriculture, Missouri's leading economic driver. Funding came from state appropriations, university investments, industry partnerships and private donations. The facilities are expected to support Missouri's 93-billion-dollar agricultural economy while preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals.