A ribbon cutting and grand opening for the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab at the Iowa State University Research Park will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.

The lab, also known as the Digital Ag Innovation Center, is expected to be a collaborative hub for digital and precision agriculture innovation, according to Iowa State’s Research Park website.

The new multi-tenant collaboration space features 85,000 square feet for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Digital Ag Innovation team.

The lab will allow the team to develop technology and products to make agriculture more productive and efficient, including the following: smart sensors, precision agriculture, machinery electronics, CAN bus technology and biomass logistics.

According to Rick Sanders, president of the Research Park, the project is a part of Iowa State’s partnership with Alliant Energy.

“This project is the latest in our long-standing partnership with Alliant Energy,” Sanders said in an Alliant Energy press release. “Our mutual goal, to invest and innovate in the agriculture industry, will take a significant step forward in this collaborative new building. It will afford us the opportunity to create an epicenter of agricultural innovation here in the Midwest.”

In the same release, John Larsen, board chair and CEO of Alliant Energy, said, “Alliant Energy is proud to partner with Iowa State University and Iowa State University Research Park to advance innovative research through this forward-thinking and strategic project. Creating space for the emergence of cutting-edge technology and collaboration opportunities in agriculture innovation will help build stronger communities across Iowa, the Midwest and beyond.” 

According to Whitney Baxter, the assistant director of communications at CALS, “Rick Sanders was slated to be the emcee at the event, and the speaker lineup would include ISU President Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Matt Darr, director of the Digital Ag Innovation Lab and a representative of Alliant Energy.”

The celebration officially begins at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, with doors opening at 3 p.m. Following remarks, guests will be able to tour the facility at 4 p.m.

Crews broke ground on the project in summer 2023. For more details, visit the Research Park website.