In the News

Farm Showcase Answers Development Questions
Columbia Missourian
Sep. 30, 2007

By Jaclyn Deweese
news@columbiamissourian.com

Wagon ride tours offered views of a developing landscape at MU's South Farm showcase Saturday.

The showcase at the nearly 1,500-acre farm offered visitors the opportunity to stop at six attractions along the route. Discovery Ridge Research Park and Jefferson Farm and Gardens, two stops along the tour, had representatives to answer guests' questions about the progress of the facilities.

At the Discovery Ridge stop, a wagon full of visitors were greeted by Dusty Walter from MU's Center for Agroforestry.

"Hop off and learn about the Midwest silicon valley," Walter said.

Although computer chips and Internet technology may not be the products of development at Discovery Ridge, innovation-based businesses that are directly tied to MU research will have a place to call home at mid-Missouri's first agricultural and industrial research park.

"This project is in a position to really embrace the potential of spin off technologies from the university to become commercialized companies," said Rick Finholt, executive director of MU's Missouri Research Parks and director of Discovery Ridge.

Other universities have moved forward with the concept of university-affiliated research parks. Purdue Research Park was built nearly 15 years ago and currently houses 140 companies with 3,000 employees, according to its Web site at purdueresearchpark.com.

"The commercialization of new technology out of the university has been very limited to date," said Bernie Andrews, president of Columbia Regional Economic Development Inc.

Construction of the research park is in phase one, with 120 acres of the South Farm being developed. Development of the park's infrastructure is the main objective of the first phase. Another 100 acres will be developed in phase two. The park is expected to occupy between 400 and 500 acres upon completion.

"With a project like this, you can anticipate the absorption of 10-20 acres per year with quality companies," he said.

At the current rate, Finholt predicts that phase one will be full within five years and it will take another five years before phase two is complete.

"That is just a guess though," Finholt said.

The first tenants of the park are ABC Laboratories and the Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. ABC Laboratories plans to move into its new facility in March 2008, just a year after breaking ground in March 2007, said Kristein King, vice president of marketing at the laboratories .

"For a park like this, the development is moving at extraordinary speed," Finholt said.

ABC Laboratories was created in 1968 by an MU professor and two graduate students. The company currently has about 300 employees and plans to add another 200 by 2010, King said. The new location will give the company room to grow.

"For a while we had two scientists per cubicle," King said.

The expanding company also plans to keep its current site east of Columbia near Interstate 70. The lab provides contract research and development for pharmaceutical, agricultural, animal health and chemical products.

RADIL has plans to move into their new location at Discovery Ridge in August 2008. The company currently resides at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. They are the second largest animal diagnostic lab in the world.

"This will allow us a lot more space for research and diagnostic laboratory activities," said Lela Riley, director of RADIL.

The two businesses that plan to move into the park - ABC Laboratories and RADIL - have begun to talk about future opportunities.

"We're already discussing collaborations with ABC Labs," Riley said. "Discovery Ridge has great potential for all of us and we're looking forward to seeing other tenants moving in."

The synergy between university administration, researchers and future park residents will create an ideal atmosphere for creating innovation -based businesses that typically congregate in clusters and strengthen the economy of the region.

"The park is an excellent opportunity for MU to work more closely with high-tech research companies," Finholt said. "As a research institution, MU has made tremendous strides."

Just across from the new site of Discovery Ridge Research park lies 67 acres of land being developed as Jefferson Farm and Gardens. The site has a 7-acre lake with a boardwalk and paved path surrounding it.

Development of Jefferson Farm and Gardens is about halfway done, said Rob Myers, executive director of the educational farm.

The facility will serve as one of the nation's premier educational farms and is expected to open in fall 2008. The farm has numerous plots showcasing several varieties of garden vegetables, fruits, field crops and alternative crops native to Missouri.

Many guests wanted to know where the farm's harvested produce would go.

"Normally, any extra produce will be given to the Central Missouri Food Bank," Myers said.

The MFA Children's Barn recently held its ground breaking ceremony. Construction is slated to begin in three weeks. The educational facility plans to host about 10,000 school children per year.

Although the look of MU's South Farm may be changing, developers are looking to the future.

"I think the future is outstanding," said Dean Tom Payne, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. "Discovery Ridge is coming along with two facilities under construction and conversations for others underway."