New Mexico State University (NMSU) will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of two new agricultural buildings, the Food Science, Security, and Safety Center, and the Animal Nutrition and Feed Manufacturing Facility. The event, scheduled for Friday, November 3rd at 10:30 a.m., will feature dignitaries, elected officials, and NMSU representatives, and will highlight the expected contributions of these buildings to New Mexico's agricultural sector.
According to a press release by NMSU, construction on the buildings began in 2021 as part of a project funded by general obligation bonds approved by New Mexico voters in 2018 and 2020.
The Food Science, Security, and Safety Center, located near the Knox Street intersection off Stewart Street, will serve as an international hub for food safety and security along the U.S.-Mexico border. It will house six state-of-the-art laboratories for research in various food-related areas. The Animal Nutrition and Feed Manufacturing Facility, on the other hand, will consolidate NMSU's livestock research efforts in one feed mill, providing space for exploring innovative feedstuffs and processing methods to improve livestock health and productivity.
"These facilities will be a game changer for ACES, NMSU, and New Mexico," said College of ACES Dean Rolando A. Flores Galarza. "They will benefit student education, support food and value-added research of agricultural products, and facilitate labor training for the meat and food industry - thus, directly impacting the food safety of our agricultural products and the economic impact of the College of ACES in New Mexico."
Shanna Ivey, head of NMSU's Animal and Range Sciences and Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources departments, expressed her excitement about the new buildings, saying, "These buildings are the biggest thing to happen in the College of ACES in years. Our students deserve these new buildings, and we are so excited to start using these resources. They will not only benefit our students but also our youth- and adult-learning programs."
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will provide an opportunity for the community to witness the completion of these state-of-the-art facilities and recognize the potential they hold for advancing agricultural research and education in New Mexico.