New Centre for Agricultural Research from the USDA and Washington State University

The Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), part of the US Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University (WSU) have opened a new facility that will host research aimed at improving the health, resilience and economic efficiency of dryland and irrigated farming systems in the Pacific Northwest.

Spanning 100,000 square feet (approximately 9,290 square metres), the USDA-ARS Plant Biosciences Research Building brings together federal and university scientists under one roof, with laboratories, collaborative workspaces and research infrastructure. The research to be conducted at the facility is planned to focus on developing scientific solutions to grain and pulse production challenges affecting US producers.

Four research units within the USDA-ARS will operate from the new research building. These units will carry out research in the fields of Wheat Health, Genetics and Quality; Cereal and Legume Genetics and Physiology; North-West Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems; and the Introduction and Testing of Plant Genetic Resources.

USDA-ARS Director Joon Park noted that the opening of the facility marks a new era in the nearly century-long collaboration between the two organisations. Park stated that having federal and university researchers work under one roof would accelerate the development of the scientific discoveries and innovations needed by US farmers and agricultural producers. Park also emphasised that the facility is intended to contribute to the long-term development of US agriculture, as well as to the State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region.

WSU President Betsy Cantwell, meanwhile, described the new research building as an investment in the future of agriculture. Cantwell stated that combining scientific expertise with advanced research infrastructure would enable the agricultural sector to tackle the challenges it faces and capitalise on new opportunities. She also noted that the collaboration is significant in terms of its objectives to support producers, strengthen the economic structure and enhance food security.

The results of nearly a century of collaboration

The collaboration between the USDA-ARS and WSU began in 1931. The joint efforts of the two organisations have yielded various outcomes for agricultural production and research capacity in the region.

These efforts include the provision of plant genetic materials to researchers and relevant stakeholders through the USDA-ARS National Plant Genetic Resources System, with the aim of supporting US food security and agricultural research. Furthermore, superior wheat breeding lines and commercial varieties exhibiting resistance to multiple pests and diseases have been developed.
As part of the research, winter peas for food production—including green and yellow varieties suitable for autumn sowing—have also been developed. These varieties offer producers the opportunity to diversify their existing crop patterns.

The long-term agricultural ecosystem research plot at the WSU Cook Agronomy Farm is also among the collaboration’s notable outcomes. Operating as part of the National Long-Term Agricultural Ecosystem Research (LTAR) network, the site contributes to the development of precision and regenerative farming systems. The research focuses on issues such as the more efficient use of nutrients and water, the protection of water and air quality, the improvement of soil health, and increasing the productivity of crop production systems.

Joint research by the two organisations has also led to the development of models designed to predict low Falling Number values—a key issue affecting wheat quality. These models, built using data from variety trials conducted across the state over several decades, aim to forecast the emergence of this quality issue.

New research opportunities

The new facility is expected to contribute to the further development of findings from previous research and to the more comprehensive integration of current scientific tools and technologies into agricultural research. USDA-ARS and WSU researchers will continue their work, particularly in areas such as yield, plant health, disease resistance and sustainable production systems in cereal and legume production.

By combining federal research capacity with the university’s scientific expertise, the facility will provide a new infrastructure for collaborative research aimed at developing solutions to agricultural challenges in the Pacific Northwest and translating these solutions into production systems.