A vital piece of Idahoâs agricultural engine is the pest and pathogen research conducted by University of Idaho faculty at the Parma Research and Extension Center. Researchers at Parma are able to identify airborne plant pathogens and notify local farmers so they can respond before they see damage to their crops. That benefit is crucial in a state where agriculture is fundamental, contributing $16 billion to the economy. The Parma Research and Extension Center is also a critical location for research in breeding, production, storage and related problems of vegetables, fruit, cereals and seed plants, along with other specialty crops. The work of the six faculty members in Parma and their students pays dividends. A 2018 study found that $1.41 is generated for every dollar spent at Parma â a contribution that supports the hops, cereals, potatoes and fruits grown in the surrounding fields and throughout the Northwest. Work at the Canyon County site has been aimed at ensuring the continued growth and success of the agricultural industry in Idaho for 70 years, and facilities are starting to show their age. Labs are housed in spaces cobbled together in structures from the 1950s and '60s, as well as modular buildings. Some of the microscopes are older than our faculty researchers. None of the labs were designed to support the needs of modern molecular science. Supporting research on the stateâs top commodities is one reason why our College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has been working with the stateâs agriculture industry on an upgrade. The proposed 12,000-square-foot Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health is a $7 million project funded largely with private donations. Eight of the stateâs commodity groups, private growers and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have together contributed about $4 million to the center. I recently went before the state's Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council in further support of the project. The new center is among the University of Idahoâs top priorities because it will better equip our scientists to address pests, production methods and other issues affecting Idaho agriculture. A contract for design will be finalized shortly, keeping the university on track to open an expanded and refurbished building in 2023. Partnership is pivotal in helping Idaho farmers statewide become even more competitive in their industry. As the stateâs land-grant institution, the University of Idaho has an essential stake in our collective success â whether thatâs preparing our students to fill needed jobs or conducting research that helps our industries and communities thrive. |