Governor Mark Gordon recently toured the Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility at the University of Wyoming (UW) Center for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The Governor was briefed regarding the Center's interdisciplinary course offerings, partnerships, and commercialization potential by Mike Baldwin, Greenhouse and Genotyping Manager; Parag Chitnis, VP, UW Research and Economic Development; and Curtis Biggs, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Following foundational support from the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP), the established program attracted additional investment from the National Science Foundation (NSF). With the additional funding, the Center is able to bring together faculty, staff, and students from the College of Engineering and Physical Science, School of Computing, College of Agriculture, Life Science and Natural Resources, and College of Business, with the goal of developing a cross-disciplinary workforce for Controlled Environment Agriculture, industry, and community engagement.
"It is gratifying to see that 'Wyoming' is becoming synonymous with the word 'innovation' nationally and internationally. The interdisciplinary coursework at the Plant Growth and Phenotyping lab, and its internship opportunity serves students statewide who seek a career in controlled environment agriculture while still adding to innovation in conventional agriculture," Governor Gordon said. "WIP's investment planted seeds for new technologies and economic opportunities in Wyoming – and the impact from this initial investment is fostering new industry partnerships and commercialization opportunities. This is exactly what Land Grant Universities are meant to do."
Read more at Tri-State Livestock News