Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University (NCSU) have celebrated the ground-breaking of a new plant research facility.

The single-storey facility will be spread across an area of 51,296ft².

Construction of this facility reflects the USDA’s commitment to funding scientific research that covers agricultural concerns that affect farmers and consumers across the country.

USDA chief scientist and Research, Education and Economics Under Secretary Chavonda Jacobs-Young said: “This investment in modern scientific infrastructure reflects USDA’s commitment to pioneering research and cutting-edge solutions that ensure growers can be more productive, profitable, and resilient.

“It also underscores the importance of our partnership with NC State to bring state-of-the-art scientific computing to this campus that will help expand the frontier of agricultural science.”

This facility will accommodate up to 30-40 ARS and NC State University-industry experts to perform research on peanuts, soybeans, maise, cotton, and wheat.

Upon completion, this site will have processing rooms and office and research spaces organised in crop-specific wings.

NCSU chancellor Randy Woodson said: “The impact of agriculture and agribusiness in North Carolina exceeds $100bn.

“We’re excited to partner with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service on this facility and its solutions-driven approach for crops that are important economic drivers of the state’s economy.”