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Research work at new facility expected to begin in spring Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Agri News staff writer
ST. PAUL -- Research projects could begin as early as next spring at the University of Minnesota Biosafety Level 3 Plant Pathology Containment Facility.
An open house and dedication were held at the facility on Nov. 7.
The facility was completed on time and on budget, said U of M Regent Dallas Bohnsack of New Prague.
Meeting a tight construction timeline was one of the challenges that Howard Jokinen dealt with. Jokinen is project manager for Harris Mechanical of St. Paul. The company installed all the mechanical systems, including the heating, air conditioning, plumbing and fire protection.
The greatest challenge was getting the specialized equipment in a fast-track fashion, Jokinen said.
"Everything is the best of the best," he said.
One unique feature of the facility is a decontamination unit. The unit includes a 200-gallon silver tank that resembles an LP tank with several gauges. All sanitary waste that leaves the facility goes through a half-hour long sterilization process before passing into the sewer system, Jokinen said. A 600-gallon storage tank holds sanitary waste before sterilizing.
Outside, coolers will work year-round to keep the greenhouse cool at 72 degrees, he said. The coolers will work year-round because of the heat generated by the greenhouse.
"It's a fantastic facility," said Bob Worth, a Lake Benton farmer who is a national director for the American Soybean Association. "It's phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal."
The new facility will do much for Minnesota farmers, he said. It will allow for research that will bring money to farmers' pockets. The research could also benefit the environment by finding ways to control crop pests without chemicals.
"It's a great day for Minnesota agriculture," agreed Rob Hanks, a LeRoy farmer and chairman of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. "Research isn't glamourous, but it's essential." The Biosafety Level 3 Facility will complement the research efforts already under way in the adjacent Biosafety Level 2 insect quarantine facility. The BL2 opened in 2003 and was built with the thought of adding the BL3.
Ground was broken for the BL3 on Sept. 6, 2006. Only the finishing touches remain, said Carol Ishimaru, head of the U of M Plant Pathology Department.
A commissioning report is being prepared on the facility, which will be completed within the next month or so, Ishimaru said. In late December, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will begin reviewing the facility to make sure it meets their standards. Their decision is expected shortly after the visit. Researchers must write for permission before starting research projects. No research can begin until the commissioning and approval process is complete and the individual project has been approved, Ishimaru said.
Research projects must be approved by APHIS, the U of M and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
The MDA and U of M will jointly operate the facility, which will be used by the U of M, MDA, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, USDA and the U.S. Forest Service.
Research projects already under consideration for the facility include sudden oak death, stem rust and soybean rust.
The facility will protect Minnesota's agricultural industry from the threat of new diseases that could result in millions of economic damage if left unchecked, said Assistant Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Robin Kinney. |
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