Texas A&M AgriLife to build research center in Rio Grande Valley

Board of Regents approves investment at Texas A&M Higher Education Center, McAllen

Texas A&M AgriLife Research has received approval from The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to begin designing a state-of-the-art research center for the Rio Grande Valley to address issues specific to local health and dietary needs, improved agricultural productivity for low-water environments and the biosecurity of food systems.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has given approval for Texas A&M AgriLife Research to begin designing a state-of-the-art research center on the campus of the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen (Courtesy photo/Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen)

The new Texas A&M AgriLife Rio Grande Valley Research Center at McAllen, a roughly $53.5 million investment in the region, will occupy about 43,500 square feet on the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen campus.

“Food security is national security, and the research at this facility will help ensure we keep Texas and the rest of the nation secure and healthy,” said Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences. “This center will advance our land-grant mission to bring research, teaching, extension and service together to solve urgent challenges facing producers and communities — in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”

Investment addresses critical needs of the Rio Grande Valley

G. Cliff Lamb, director of AgriLife Research, emphasized the importance of delivering tangible results for South Texas. “The new research center will create a powerful platform for AgriLife Research and the Higher Education Center at McAllen to directly address the needs of the Rio Grande Valley. By bringing together world-class scientists, modern facilities and regional partnerships, we will deliver practical, science-based solutions for agriculture, health and food security across South Texas.”

In addition, AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen are further partnering to create student-centered spaces that will support the campus’s continued enrollment growth.

Meeting the needs of the Rio Grande Valley

“The new research center will strengthen Texas A&M’s presence in the Rio Grande Valley by pairing world-class research with student-centered opportunities that address the region’s agricultural, health and workforce needs,” said Ernie Aliseda, associate vice president and chief operating officer of the Higher Education Center at McAllen.

The facility design will include flexible infrastructure to respond to rapidly evolving agricultural and public health challenges. Planned features include:

• Modern laboratories, procedure rooms and shared laboratory support space.
• Clinical research support facilities that incorporate best practices in design.
• Sample-based screening capabilities to provide regional lab services related to food system biosecurity.
• A fabrication center for developing and prototyping sensors and controls to enhance food system safety.

The Board of Regents will review the project for construction approval following completion of the design phase.