The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) broke ground on the Agricultural Research and Technology Center (ARTC) in Davis, California, marking a new phase in agricultural innovation. The modern facility will centralize ARS labs currently at the University of California, Davis, and support advances in climate resilience, water scarcity solutions, pest management, and crop preservation.

The two-story, 59,000-square-foot building will house four ARS research units: Crops Pathology and Genetics, Invasive Species and Pollinator Health, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, and Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems. Together, the teams will enhance agricultural sustainability across California and the Western U.S., according to a news release.

“The building will be a nexus for scientists to investigate plant diseases, soil health, invasive species management, and other areas driven by long-term research and climate-informed strategies,” Simon Liu, ARS administrator, said in the release.

ARS’s collaboration with UC Davis dates back to 1956 with the establishment of the Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit. The new ARTC facility will further this partnership by fostering cooperative research with university specialists, farm advisors, and industry stakeholders.

“This research will benefit growers, commodity groups, and U.S. consumers who rely on ARS to address agricultural challenges,” Amisha Poret-Peterson, acting research leader for CPGRU, said in the release.

The ARTC is part of ARS’s broader commitment to modernize research infrastructure, empowering scientists to tackle key agricultural challenges from climate change to sustainable farming practices.