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.
The exterior of the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab is pictured Thursday, Dec. 5 at the ISU Research Park in Ames.
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.”
More: Find out which Iowa State and Drake athletes have partnered with Jethro’s to support YSS
A corn board in the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab tracks the growth of individual corn plants.
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.
Sensors and other digital technology at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab. Taken Dec. 5, 2024.
A conference room in the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab at the Iowa State University Research Park. Taken Dec. 5, 2024.
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.
A classroom in the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab at the Iowa State University Research Park. Taken Dec. 5, 2024.
More: Ames Regional Economic Alliance’s annual luncheon highlighted by speech from burn survivor
Benjamin Covington, engineer on Iowa State’s Digital Ag Innovation team, shows off some of the technology in the new Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab on Dec. 5 in Ames.
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