The future of agriculture in central Iowa just got a little bit more exciting thanks to a notable collaboration and vision.
More than 100 people gathered at the Iowa State Research Park on Dec. 5 in Ames to celebrate the grand opening of the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen, as well as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, joined representatives with the Iowa State Research Park and Alliant Energy during last week’s ceremony.
Also known as the Digital Ag Innovation Lab, the building provides more than 85,000 square feet of collaboration space for Alliant Energy and Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Science’s Digital Ag Innovation team. It also will house agtech training and events.
The $18 million innovation lab, which first broke ground in September 2023, will host agriculture-based companies as well, amplifying partnership opportunities. Tenants will have access to workforce, research and development expertise, technology and training opportunities.
Secretary of ag refers to lab as a ‘crown jewel’
Naig and Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen referred to the new Ames facility as a “crown jewel” of Iowa agriculture.
Naig said the lab is a “wonderful addition” to the research park and should help boost Iowa’s agriculture.
“We are just adding more and more jewels to that wonderful crown, and we can showcase the very best of Iowa agriculture right here in Ames,” Naig said. “Then we get to show off to the world the wonderful things we’re doing.”
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New building offers plenty of room for research, labs
The innovation lab is located in the ISU Research Park, just south of the Ames Fitness Center on University Boulevard.
More than 70% of the building consists of high-bay and lab space. Much of the floor is concrete to support agriculture machines like tractors and hay balers. The facility has enough space for farm vehicles to fit comfortably in individual rooms.
The building’s labs are large, open spaces with multiple stations. A grain lab allows students to study and compare the progress of individual crops. A digital lab houses agriculture technology such as smart sensors and controls, machinery electronics and Controller Area Network (CAN) bus technology.
The building also has multiple rooms for conferencing and teaching. Those spaces will serve as the meeting place for Iowa State students to receive hands-on agricultural experience.
Construction lasted a little more than a year
Alliant Energy and the ISU Research Park announced their partnership in March 2023 and broke ground on the facility that September.
ISU Research Park President Rick Sanders said the research park team is “so proud” of how the facility has turned out.
“We have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this project,” Sanders said. “We’re so excited about the impact it’s going to have, and how it’s going to be utilized on a day-to-day basis.”
Alliant Energy contributed $3 million to the $18 million project.
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ISU’s Digital Innovation team is a national success
The Digital Innovation Lab will focus on developing technology and products to make agriculture more productive, efficient and profitable.
The ISU Digital Innovation team is one of the most successful research teams at Iowa State, Wintersteen said. Fifty-nine products sold worldwide contain intellectual property created by the innovation team.
“It’s truly phenomenal what they’ve accomplished,” Wintersteen said. “They are continually raising the standard of excellence.”
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: What to know about the new ag innovation lab in Ames