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 “The Feed Technology Center, part of the College of
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois,
will accelerate advancements and expand horizons in technology
and scientific discovery in feed ingredient utilization, new
processing technologies, and improved efficiency of food
production,” says Rodney Johnson, head of the Department of
Animal Sciences at U of I. “We’re very excited to get this
project underway.”
Construction is expected to wrap up by September, 2020, at which
time full-scale operations will begin. The new building complex,
with its high-throughput storage, processing, mixing, extruding,
bagging, and delivery systems, will deliver 8,000 tons of
specialized small-batch research diets per year.
Dozens of Illinois animal nutrition scientists and hundreds of
undergraduate and graduate students will take advantage of the
facility’s capabilities to design and test healthy, efficient
diets for livestock and companion animals. The research
enterprise will rely on and strengthen relationships with
industry partners, including state and regional grain and
livestock producers, as well as feed companies.
Within the Feed Technology Center, Illinois students will safely
gain hands-on experience with the latest feed technologies,
positioning them as strong contenders for leadership positions
within the industry. New undergraduate and graduate courses are
set to expand the curriculum in animal nutrition and feed
technology, including the possibility of a new undergraduate
concentration in the future.
The long-awaited project is kicking off thanks to a unique
funding model, similar to a lease-to-own arrangement. The
College of ACES has invested $6 million, and is inviting private
partners to donate cash and in-kind contributions toward the $20
million facility. Alltech, Inc. and the Illinois Farm Bureau
have already committed to the project.
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“The Feed Technology Center is a game-changing asset
that will elevate our ability to conduct innovative research while
training the next generation of experts in feed science and animal
nutrition,” says Kim Kidwell, dean of the College of ACES. “This
facility, along with increased capacity in precision animal
management, will advance our capabilities to perform
industry-relevant research designed to support food production while
ensuring animal wellbeing.”
The facility will be located near the poultry farm on South Race
Street, part of the ACES Legacy Corridor. To stay up-to-date on
construction progress, follow ACES on Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram, and bookmark the Feed Technology Center’s web page,
https://go.illinois.edu/FTC_web.
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The Department of Animal Sciences at Illinois includes over 6,000
alumni, nearly 600 undergraduates, and more than 100 graduate
students, as well as more than 30 world-class faculty. Animal
Sciences graduates and discoveries contribute to a safe, nutritious,
sustainable, and affordable food supply and enhance the well-being
of human and animals.
The Department of Animal Sciences is in the College of Agricultural,
Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.
Faculty, staff, students, and Extension professionals in the College
of ACES are finding solutions to the world’s most critical
challenges in order to create abundant food and energy, a healthy
environment, and successful families and communities. ACES is More
Than Meets the I.
[Source: Rod Johnson, News writer:
Lauren Quinn]
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