National Agricultural Genotyping Center holds first open house

The National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) in Fargo, North Dakota, held an open house for the first time on Tuesday.

The event not only focused on a tour of the new facility for government and agricultural industry professionals; it also provided an opportunity for the board of directors to establish and discuss the center's priorities and responsibilities for the upcoming year.

“This facility is the first of its kind for a farmer-led association, giving growers more influence on research agendas,” Dr. Richard Vierling, director of research at NCGA, said. “NAGC will help growers increase production and lower costs. With so many stakeholders on hand and actively expressing interest, it was apparent to all present that the exciting potential for innovation is enormous and will lead to concrete results that can strengthen the bottom line for U.S. farmers.”

The mission of the National Agricultural Genotyping Center is to translate scientific discoveries into solutions for production, agriculture, food safety, functional foods, bioenergy and national security. The NAGC is partnering with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). The Los Alamos National Laboratory works with the government to solve national security challenges through scientific excellence and technology to protect the U.S. and promote world stability. The National Corn Growers Association represents more than 43,000 farmers nationwide to create and increase opportunities for corn growers.