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Aug. 13, 2024
Source: Oklahoma State University news release A $5 million gift from Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and a $1 million gift from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission will jumpstart a new Agronomy Discovery Center at Oklahoma State University. The two lead donations help launch a new fundraising initiative that will advance OSU's mission to nourish the world. As part of a multiphase process, the Agronomy Discovery Center will be created through upgrades to the existing Agronomy Research Station, home to one of the world's top wheat breeding programs. "The work conducted at the Agronomy Research Station really matters, greatly affecting both producers and consumers throughout Oklahoma and beyond," said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. "We are doing state-of-the-art research, but we are doing it in antiquated facilities. The Agronomy Discovery Center will provide the infrastructure we need to compete in the modern era and achieve our mission of feeding the world. "We are incredibly thankful to Oklahoma Genetics Inc. and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission for enabling us to begin the initial phase of this project." A modernized research station will elevate OSU Agriculture's research capabilities and create ample opportunities for program growth and impact. Early priorities include constructing a new headhouse and 12 research greenhouses, which will become the birthplace of OSU's new wheat lines. Plans also include a dynamic and multipurpose Research and Education Center, featuring classrooms and laboratory spaces that can accommodate industry audiences. The building will house the lab spaces for the Wheat Quality Laboratory; Soil, Water and Forage Analytical Laboratory; and the Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, where more than 65,000 samples are analyzed each year from farms, ranches and gardens across the state. Throughout Oklahoma, where wheat is the top crop, 71% of all wheat acres planted are developed at OSU, including 36 varieties commercialized by the university since 2000. Twenty-five percent of named wheat varieties grown in Texas also originated at OSU. Discoveries made at the research station significantly impact the state's $42 billion agricultural industry and influence food security worldwide. "The Agronomy Research Station directly serves OSU's land-grant mission, channeling research and education to empower farmers, enhance food security and foster sustainable practices," OSU President Kayse Shrum said. "Through the Agronomy Discovery Center, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing agricultural innovation to serve our community and the world." In addition to the two lead gifts, the university has approved early funding for the Agronomy Discovery Center, and architectural planning is underway. Further private support is needed to complete the transformation. The fundraising initiative includes four levels of donor recognition: Triumph ($1 million+), Chisholm ($500,000-$999,999), Duster ($250,000-499,999) and Gallagher ($50,000-$249,999). "When products of the wheat breeding program stand a better chance against nature than the facilities used to create them, then we know it's time to upgrade," said Dr. Brett Carver, OSU Regents professor and wheat genetics chair. "Investments like this do not merely produce wheat for today; they ensure a better breed of Oklahoma wheat for tomorrow."
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