MANHATTAN, KAS. — Construction started in July on the new O. H. Kruse Feed Technology Innovation Center at Kansas State University in Manhattan.

The facility is being built within the Department of Grain Science and Industry complex on the K.S.U. campus and will be co-managed by the Grain Science & Industry Department and the Department of Animal Sciences & Industry.

It will be home to the university’s Feed Science and Management program and will provide for all of the research diets needed by the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry on its livestock research farms.

The design of the new facility is flexible and multi-purpose. The primary design criteria are to develop a world-class teaching and research facility that will serve the needs of students, scientists, faculty and industry stakeholders, K.S.U. said. All traditional feed processes will be included as well as novel processes for aquaculture feed, companion and zoo animal food production and research.

Substantial emphasis has been placed on the capability to conduct research, teaching and outreach training on food and feed safety and biosecurity issues related to animal agriculture.