Fort Valley State University

Biotechnology is big business in Georgia, and Fort Valley State University is playing a key role when it comes to this high-tech industry.

The university’s College of Agriculture, Home Economics and Allied Programs is scheduled to begin construction this summer on a $3.1 million Agricultural Biotechnology Center that’s expected to be completed by Fall of 2009.

To celebrate the 8-000 square-foot facility, local and state politicians, school superintendents, industry leaders and FVSU faculty and staff will gather at a 10:30 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony, May 29, on the Stallworth Agricultural Research Station’s lawn on Carver Drive, across from the Wildcat Stadium parking lot.

The facility, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will have four laboratories and a lecture hall that can accommodate more than 100 people. It will be utilized to expand the already existing research efforts focusing on plant biotechnology, animal biotechnology and applied biotechnology which includes alternative energy.

Training students, who will be mentored by research scientists, will be an important aspect of the center, said Dr. Mark Latimore Jr., the College of Agriculture’s interim dean.

“Georgia ranks seventh among states in biotech companies. These corporations employ thousands of people. We are preparing our students for high-paying jobs that require the training and education we provide,” Latimore said. “This new, high-tech center is a reminder of the many career options available in the area of agriculture.”

Also, by having this center located in rural Middle Georgia, the land-grant institution can continue to advance agricultural teaching and research, and expand its community outreach efforts, Latimore said.

The various types of biotechnology serve many purposes including cutting production costs for farmers, increasing crop yield, improving health and nutrition, and providing new tools for removing environmental toxins.

“We are excited about this center that will further accommodate our research scientists and their efforts to expand research in biotechnology,” Latimore said. “Plus, the facility will be used to educate the public which can benefit from possible workshops that address such topics as alternative energy and farming practices.”