Last week, the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology celebrated a groundbreaking for an expansion of the biotech campus. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey joined state and regional officials, members of the business and non-profit community, and leadership from HudsonAlpha for the ceremony in the Paul Propst Center. Watch the groundbreaking.

“I am thrilled to see the vision that Lonnie and I had over a decade ago continue to take shape and evolve to provide solutions to help our world,” said Jim Hudson, HudsonAlpha co-founder. “Our research teams will now have the capabilities to take our plant science and sustainable agriculture program to the next level.”

This expansion will encompass two facilities: a new state-of-the-art laboratory and greenhouse space for HudsonAlpha’s Center for Plant Science and Sustainable Agriculture and the global headquarters for resident associate company, Discovery Life Sciences. The HudsonAlpha Center for Plant Science and Sustainable Agriculture will add 13,000 square feet of lab and greenhouse space allowing scientists to propagate and grow plants on campus in controlled environments to advance research goals. In the last year, the Center has added two new faculty members and a number of new research endeavors. Read more about the HudsonAlpha Center for Plant Science and Sustainable Agriculture.

Scientists will use the greenhouse to support genomics-enabled breeding pipelines for new varieties of crops, environmentally sustainable energy sources through plant-based biofuels, and studies on how to reduce fertilizer use and eliminate fungicides to increase grower yields. Research on plants such as peanuts, beans and barley will benefit Alabama farmers as well as families dependent upon safe, reliable food sources worldwide. Projects focused on unusual plants and flower species will help preserve Alabama’s incredible biodiversity and improve our understanding of the natural world.

With the initial investment from the state of Alabama, the HudsonAlpha Foundation is seeking additional funding for the state-of-the-art greenhouse laboratory. If you would like to learn more or get involved, visit hudsonalphafoundation.org/feedandfuel.