Kansas Wheat Commission / Kansas Assn. of Wheat Growers Supplement to the High Plains Journal March 2013
Inside: Tour the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center
A New Era for Kansas Wheat
In November, the offices
of the Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers moved into the new Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, officially entering a new era of wheat research and technology discovery unique to the state of Kansas. Kansas wheat farmers, through the penny-anda-half per bushel Kansas wheat assessment, are funding most of the $10.3 million, 35,000 squarefoot structure, which includes 15,000 square feet of laboratories, a 10,000 square-foot greenhouse complex and 10,000 square feet of office space. In addition to the staff of the KAWG and KWC, the Innovation Center houses the offices of Heartland Plant Innovations, “This facility fulfills a vision Kansas held by generations of wheat the Wheat leaders: that Kansas will always Alliance and the Kansas be the Wheat State.” - Justin Foundation Gilpin, Kansas Wheat CEO for Agriculture in the Classroom. The KWIC sits on three acres of land leased from Kansas State University, adjacent to the Grain Science and Industry Complex in Manhattan. Research space at the facility is occupied by Heartland Plant Innovations, a KAWG/ KWC initiative that is focused on developing new traits, varieties and solutions for Hard Red and Hard White winter wheat farmers.
Among the features of the Center’s research facilities are several growth chambers and freezers, plus laboratory pods in which researchers control the environment of wheat plants from emergence to maturity. Four greenhouses were built on the north side of the laboratory, including an airconditioned unit to enable research during the summer. The office wing includes a well-appointed test kitchen in order for KWC to continue to focus on nutrition education; a large conference/meeting room is adjacent to the kitchen for baking demonstrations and other meetings. A boardroom completes the office portion of the building. Several businesses and families have acquired naming rights of many of the rooms; funds from those naming opportunities have been placed into the new Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation, which will be used exclusively for funding wheat research at Kansas State University.
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Justin Gilpin, chief executive officer of Kansas Wheat, says the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center represents the realization of a Join Us April 26 for dream held by the kwic open house many Kansas wheat leaders. The KAWG and KWC will host an Open House April “Through 26 for the Kansas Wheat the Kansas Innovation Center. wheat checkoff, Kansas wheat farmers have joined Kansas State University, the State of Kansas and Heartland Plant Innovations to deliver improved wheat genetics to farmers faster,” Gilpin says.
The dedication begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by tours and refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m.
The KWIC’s tenants, the Kansas Wheat Alliance, Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom and Heartland Plant Innovations, also will participate in the Open House. Reservations are not required, but if you would like to RSVP, call the Kansas Wheat office at 785-539-0255, or e-mail kswheat@kswheat. com.
“Kansas’ wheat leaders have prioritized wheat research The KWIC’s address is 1990 for years. This Kimball Ave. in Manhattan. facility ensures that Kansas will always be the Wheat State.” To learn more, visit www. kansaswheatresearch.org.