A new National Agricultural Genotyping Center is scheduled to be completed by late this summer, according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). The center aims to aid farmers with new technologies and is a non-profit initiative founded by NCGA and Los Alamos National Laboratory.  Primary areas of study will include production agriculture, food safety, functional foods, bioenergy and national security.

Recently, USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, visited the future site of the center in Fargo, N.D., to focus attention on the importance of agricultural business. Sen. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, has been working hard on behalf of agriculture to support crop production and genomics research programs. Deputy Secretary Harden views the center as a possible model for future public-private partnerships.

“New businesses drive innovation and offer choices to farmers,” said NCGA Director of Research and New Uses Rick Vierling, Ph.D. “The National Agricultural Genotyping Center was created to provide farmers, researchers and companies with cost effective, relevant, and breakthrough technologies. NCGA wants to be at the forefront in creating economic opportunities for corn farmers.”