For more than 40 years, the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) has promoted the use of northern-grown commodities, including soybeans, through educational courses, research and technical assistance. NCI’s reach has now expanded to more than 150 countries and technology and space needs have changed over the past four decades. Now they have a new home to meet their growing needs: the Peltier Complex.
After two years of construction, NCI welcomed folks to its new home during a grand opening and dedication of the Peltier Complex June 12 on the southwest corner of the North Dakota State University (NDSU) campus in Fargo, N.D. In addition to NCI, the 160,000-square foot facility will also be home to NDSU’s food science, cereal science and meat science programs. along with the North Dakota Trade Office and USDA.
“We consider NCI to be an international meeting place for the grains that are grown in the northern U.S. and having a facility like this to host people from all over the world to showcase our commodities and growers is really awe-inspiring,” said David Boehm, NCI technical director and co-interim executive director.
The Peltier Complex offers triple the space of the current facility. A key feature for soybean growers is the three new food-grade labs for soy, protein and fermentation, which were sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC). Minnesota’s soy checkoff funds part of NCI’s short courses – such as the upcoming INTSOY: Intro to Soybean course that will provide a wide overview of the soybean industry to potential soy-purchasers across the globe.
MSR&PC Director Paul Freeman, who serves on the Northern Crops Council, which oversees NCI, said the new facility offers numerous opportunities for farmers and the region’s economy.
“The reach of NCI is worldwide, and this new facility is world-class,” Freeman said.
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