Federal officials broke ground recently for a new $28 million U.S. Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
Upon completion in 2006, the facility will house 30 scientists plus support staff for the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), which is the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The center will be co-located with the University of Arizona’s Maricopa Agricultural Center.
“When completed, this new center will be one of the premier agricultural research centers in the world dealing with issues of arid and semiarid lands,” said Antoinette Betschart, director for ARS’ Pacific West Area.
The new facility will combine one center ARS’ U.S. Water Conservation Research Laboratory and Western Cotton Research Laboratory – both currently located in Phoenix.