October 1, 2009

A key development in the life sciences arena was announced as part of a new agricultural collaboration involving Dow AgroSciences, Purdue and the state of Indiana. 

Dow AgroSciences will become a key tenant at the Purdue Research Park, occupying 15,000 square feet of research and office space in the newly built Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center.  

In addition, Dow AgroSciences will be the exclusive tenant of a 6,000-square-foot greenhouse complex to be constructed on the south side of the Ross Enterprise Center at 3495 Kent Ave. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) will support the Purdue Research Foundation in the construction of a US$2.2 million greenhouse research centre with a grant to assist in development costs.

Up to 30 scientists will be working in the Purdue Research Park as part of this collaboration over the next three years, with up to an additional 18 contract research workers to be hired from the surrounding community. Researchers from Dow AgroSciences will have access to the Purdue College of Agriculture's 23 research facilities, including the Agronomy Center for Research and Education, Genomics Core Facility and Life Sciences Microscopy Facility.

The project is an important step in Dow AgroSciences' global technology development plans, and activity at Purdue Research Park will focus on biotechnology innovation and discovery.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, is an agricultural company that provides innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology.