The attached article is written by Mallory Prescott, an Academics Reporter at the Iowa State Daily. To view the original publishing of the article, visit https://iowastatedaily.com/306227/news/digital-agriculture-innovation-lab-celebrates-its-grand-opening-wintersteen-grateful-for-partnership/.
Iowa State University’s Research Park partnered with Alliant Energy to establish the Digital Agriculture Innovation Lab, which celebrated its ribbon cutting and grand opening Thursday.
“We are so proud of how it’s turned out and we’re so excited about the impact it’s going to have and how it’s going to be utilized on a day-to-day basis,” Rick Sanders, director of ISU Research Park, said.
The center offers over 85,000 square feet of space for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Digital Ag Innovation Team, as well as agriculture-focused business tenants, to utilize technology, research, and development resources.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sanders took a moment to highlight the significance of the occasion.
“Today, we are not only opening a state-of-the-art facility, but we are also celebrating our collective commitment to driving agricultural innovation and sustainability as well as the incredible advancements in agricultural technology that are taking place right here in Iowa State University,” Sanders said.
Sanders then introduced Mike Naig, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.
“We get to showcase the very best of Iowa agriculture right here in Ames,” Naig said. “And I am so proud to be able to do that, and then we get to show off to the entire world the wonderful things that we’re doing, and especially the investment that we can make in this great state.”
Naig emphasized that Iowa State is one of the leading land-grant institutions in the world. He highlighted that both Iowa State and the ISU Research Park are at the forefront of the next generation of agricultural innovation and entrepreneurial ventures.
Naig took a moment to recognize the farming generations of innovation.
“As long as we have been farming, we’ve been innovating,” Naig said. “The first person that was a farmer in this world said I’m going to try and do it better next time. We’ve been innovating as long as we have been farming. It’s never been more true than it is today.”
Wendy Wintersteen, president of Iowa State, discussed the partnership between Iowa State and Alliant Energy.
“We would not be here today without Alliant Energy,” Wintersteen said. “We are deeply grateful for their shared vision of innovation, collaboration and building stronger communities. Their generous investment made this facility a reality.”
Wintersteen then highlighted the 60-year partnership between Iowa State and Alliant Energy, as well as their ongoing collaboration on research projects and various initiatives.
In 2023, Iowa State dedicated Alliant Energy solar farms, located south and west of Iowa State University. The solar farm is a living laboratory to study soil, water, plant and animal interaction, with a solar array integrated with the agricultural layer. ISU also partnered with Alliant Energy to create a Digital Manufacturing Lab that currently houses over 500 companies.
“These investments not only provide research, innovation and economic growth, but they also provide valuable opportunities for our students and faculty,” Wintersteen said.
Mayuri Farlinger, president of Alliant Energy, also spoke about the partnership.
“Alliant Energy works towards the development of new growth and fueling future development as well as a clean energy future,” Farlinger said. “We must continue to learn and be at the forefront of technology. And our continued partnership with Iowa State University is really an effective way for us to advance that mission.”
Matt Darr, director of the Digital Ag Innovation Lab, spoke on the mission of the lab.
“I think we are a perfect representation of the Iowa State motto, which is science with practice,” Darr said.
The new lab features designated meeting spaces that allow students to engage in hands-on experiences, according to Darr. It will also allow students to educate farmers on how to implement technology that drives up real farm value.
The lab focuses on developing technologies and products aimed at making agriculture more productive, efficient and profitable, including the following:
- Smart sensors and control systems
- Precision agriculture
- Machinery electronics and can bus technology
- Biomass logistics.
Ben Covington, a test engineer at Iowa State University, explained his role in the Digital Agriculture Innovation Lab.
“Being here in Ames, Iowa, we were at the home of a lot of that precision ag technology,” Convington said. “A lot of the first initial yield monitoring devices on combines were built right here. My group, specifically, has been able to help perfect some of that and we started to bring that into other platforms such as going into sugarcane harvesters as well as forage harvesters and definitely into our hand forage equipment.”
“It has been a really long time coming,” Teresa Middleton, a Digital Agronomy Team Lead, said. “It is really satisfying to kind of see it all come together and really see the outpouring of support for all of our partners and other people in the ag industry within Iowa.”