Bayer CropScience openied its doors at a new $20 million greenhouse in RTP on Friday.
Bayer CropScience Inaugurates new Greenhouse for Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
“This investment in research and people will help drive our developments in producing crops even more efficiently and sustainably,” said Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, Bayer AG’s management board member responsible for Innovation, Technology and Sustainability, said during the inauguration ceremony. “The greenhouse marks our commitment to cultivating new ideas and answers, and also reflects our continued expansion of our BioScience activities.”
The massive facility, located at 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, covers 60,000 square feet and stands three stories tall.
The company bases its North American headquarters in RTP.
Corn and soybean research and development, including molecular breeding, will be points of emphasis for workers at the facility.
Dr. Plischke, Dr. David Nicholson, Bayer CropScience head of research and development and executive committee member, and Jim Blome, President and CEO of Bayer CropScience North America, were on hand.
The facility includes 30,000 square feet of greenhouse space, more than 3,500 square feet of office and meeting space, and 2,400 square feet of growth chambers.
A laboratory, seed handling and storage areas as well as a 70,000 gallon underground water storage tank are part of the greenhouse.
