ISU Research Park's new $18M ag innovation lab fosters research and collaboration
The future of agriculture in central Iowa just got a big boost thanks to a remarkable partnership and vision.
More than 100 people gathered at the Iowa State Research Park on December 5 in Ames to celebrate the grand opening of the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab. Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, joined representatives from the Iowa State Research Park and Alliant Energy at last week's event.
Also known as the Digital Ag Innovation Lab, the building provides more than 85,000 workspaces for Alliant Energy and Iowa State's College of Agriculture and Life Science's Digital Ag Innovation team. It will also feature agtech training and events.
The 18 million innovation lab, which started operating in September 2023, will also host companies focused on agriculture, increasing the opportunities for cooperation. Employers will have access to staff, research and professional development, 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.
Ag Secretary calls lab 'jewel in crown'
Naig and Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen called the new Ames location the “crown jewel” of Iowa agriculture.
Naig said the lab is a “wonderful part” of the research park and should help improve agriculture in Iowa.
“We're adding more jewels to that beautiful crown, and we can showcase the best of Iowa agriculture right here in Ames,” Naig said. “Then we show the world the good things we do.”
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The corn board in the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab tracks the growth of individual corn plants.
The new building offers plenty of space for research, labs
The new lab is located in the ISU Research Park, just south of the Ames Fitness Center on University Boulevard.
More than 70 percent of the building is loft and lab space. Most of the floor is concrete to support agricultural machinery such as tractors and hay bales. The facility has enough space for farm vehicles to enter the individual rooms freely.
Building labs are large, open spaces with many stations. The grain lab allows students to study and compare the progress of individual crops. The digital lab houses agricultural technologies such as smart sensors and controllers, electronics and Controller Area Network (CAN) bus technology.
The building also has many conference and teaching rooms. Those areas will serve as a gathering place for Iowa State students to gain agricultural experience.
Sensors and other digital technologies at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
A conference room at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab at the Iowa State University Research Park. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
Construction took a little over a year
Alliant Energy and ISU Research Park announced their partnership in March 2023 and began operations at the facility in September.
ISU Research Park President Rick Sanders said the research park team is “very proud” of how the facility has turned out.
“We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this project,” Sanders said. “We're very excited about the impact it's going to have, and how it's going to be used every day.”
Alliant Energy contributed $3 million to the $18 million project.
A class at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab at Iowa State University Research Park. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
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Benjamin Covington, an engineer with Iowa State's Digital Ag Innovation team, demonstrates 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 technologies and products to make agriculture more productive, efficient and profitable.
The ISU Digital Innovation team is one of the most successful research groups at Iowa State, Wintersteen said. Fifty-nine products sold worldwide contain intellectual property developed by the innovation team.
“It's really amazing what they've done,” Wintersteen said. “They keep raising the bar.”
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. He can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in the Ames Tribune: What you need to know about the new ag innovation lab in Ames
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