Investing in Agriculture

As Kansas State University leads the nation toward a next-generation land-grant university, we must be nimble and adaptive to the world around us, meeting our learners and partners where they are and working alongside them to address their most pressing needs.

To accomplish this, the Agriculture Innovation Initiative fully embraces the idea of One K-State by instituting an interdisciplinary environment of dynamic innovation while cultivating trust and building relationships throughout the state, nation and world.

The facility upgrades and expansions will invest in grain, food, animal and agronomy research. This effort includes a 3:1 funding match for building facilities from the state of Kansas. In other words, since we raised $75 million in private gifts, the state of Kansas has awarded $25 million (plus another guaranteed $25 million).

These funds will be used to drive new discovery, knowledge, interdisciplinary connection and deployment of innovation. In turn, it catalyzes economic development, job creation nationwide, and resilience in the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

The Agriculture Innovation Initiative will bring our resources and expertise together in a way that respects our unique structure and recognizes current and future challenges. To make it a reality will require the support of students, faculty, staff, alumni and industry partners and coming together to realize the vision of One K-State.

Timeline and milestones

Kansas State has an opportunity to step forward and advance ag science in different and new ways that will bring collaboration together. The vision for what the buildings will be is a separator; it will deliver distinctiveness. To date, our facilities have served us well, but they're ending their useful lifespan, and now's the time for these new buildings. This timing coincides with the arrival of new university leadership and a new focus on interdisciplinary approaches to serving the university, the citizens, the industry, and the state of Kansas. The leadership focus and the timing are coming together perfectly to bring the Ag Innovation Initiative to fruition

Ernie Minton, Eldon Gideon Dean, College of Agriculture and Director, K-State Research and Extension

I encourage everyone to reach out to learn more about this project. It will take all of us to get it done, both with our financial support and by serving as advocates. It’s a game-changer for Kansas State, so I urge you to join us and get involved.

Mary Vanier, Donor of the Ag Innovation Initiative