MANHATTAN (KSNT) – Kansas State University has received a $1 million donation that will help bring the university closer to a big goal.
K-State announced on Friday, Sept. 26 that Cargill donated $1 million to the university’s Agriculture Innovation Initiative. This donation brings the university closer to its $210 million goal to enhance its efforts in advancing global food security.
The donation by Cargill, an American multinational food corporation, isn’t the first. Over its lifetime, the company has donated more than $10 million to K-State.
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“Cargill and Kansas State University are united in their commitment to nourish our planet’s rapidly growing population,” said Scott Eilert, senior director of responsible sourcing for Cargill’s global food business. “We choose to invest in the Agriculture Innovation Initiative because its novel design brings academia and industry together in a quest to help farmers and ranchers produce more food with less impact. It’s a modern approach to a modern challenge.”
The Agriculture Innovation Initiative, led by K-State’s College of Agriculture, is designed to use interdisciplinary research, infrastructure expansion and industry collaboration to strengthen food security, according to a press release from the university.
“I would like to thank Cargill for its ongoing support of the College of Agriculture at K-State and this specific investment in the Agriculture Innovation Initiative,” said Dan Moser, interim Eldon Gideon dean of the College of Agriculture. “We greatly value Cargill as a strong, long-standing partner of the university and the college, with a lifetime giving landmark of $10 million. The College of Agriculture consistently ranks among the leading university agricultural programs nationally, and this donation will help sustain the exceptional K-State student experience and research excellence while creating positive economic, community and societal impacts.”
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The initiative includes the development of four new or renovated facilities: the Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, the Agronomy Research and Innovation Center, the Bilbrey Family Event Center along with Call and Weber halls.
“The Agricultural Innovation Initiative, launched in 2022, addresses a nearly 15-year need to modernize K-State’s agricultural infrastructure,” said Kansas State University President Richard Linton. “The results will soon be reflected in enhanced student experiences, improved recruitment of students and faculty, increased local economic activity and stronger research outcomes. Most importantly, we’ll shift toward more collaborative, interdisciplinary exploration and industry partnerships. This transformative project — made possible through combined contributions from the state of Kansas, private donors and partners like Cargill — will allow us to do good not only for Kansas, but for the world.”
For more information about the donation, click here.
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