 The USDA-ARS Plant Bioscience Research Building in Pullman, WA. (Photo courtesy of Washington State University)
Contact: ARS Office of Communications, Media Relations
Email: ARSPress@usda.gov
USDA Agricultural Research Service and Washington State University Open State-of-the-Art Plant Bioscience Research Facility in Pullman, WA
New Bioscience Research Facility Will Advance Innovative Agricultural Science in the Pacific Northwest
(Pullman, Wash., Oct. 14, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Washington State University (WSU) opened a state-of-the-art research facility today that will be home to studies focused on improving the health, resiliency, and profitability of dryland and irrigated agriculture in the Pacific Northwest.
The 100,000-square-foot USDA-ARS Plant Bioscience Research Building features laboratories, collaborative workspaces, and research infrastructure designed for ARS and WSU researchers to address some of the most pressing challenges facing agriculture today.
The new building houses four ARS research units: Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality; Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology; Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems; and Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing. Collectively, the researchers will work on science-based solutions to agricultural issues in cereal and pulse crop production that affect U.S. farmers.
“This new Plant Bioscience Research Building opens a new chapter in the nearly century-long partnership between ARS and WSU. By bringing federal and university researchers together under one roof, we are accelerating the discoveries and innovations that U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers need to thrive. This facility reflects our shared commitment to advancing plant and soil science in ways that strengthen the agricultural prosperity of Washington state, the Northwest region, and ultimately American agriculture for generations to come,” said ARS Administrator Joon Park.
The collaboration between ARS and WSU began in 1931 and is one of the nation’s most robust federal-state partnerships.
"This new USDA-ARS facility is an investment in the future. It brings together world-class scientists, cutting-edge research infrastructure, and a shared determination to address the challenges and opportunities ahead for agriculture,” said WSU President Betsy Cantwell. “Today's opening is also the culmination of years of dedication and collaboration. We thank the many people whose vision and perseverance helped bring this project from idea to reality. At WSU, we believe our role as a land grant institution is not simply to respond to change, but to help lead it. Through strong partnerships like this one, we are working with USDA to advance discoveries that support growers, strengthen our economy, enhance food security, and improve lives across Washington state and beyond.”
The collaboration between ARS and WSU has resulted in significant, impactful accomplishments for the agricultural industry in this region, including the development of:
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Plant genetic resources to collaborators and stakeholders through the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System to support U.S. food security and advances in agricultural research.
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Superior wheat breeding lines and commercial varieties with resistance to multiple pests and diseases.
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Food-grade winter peas, in both green and yellow varieties, which provide growers with pulse crops that can be planted in the fall.
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The national WSU Cook Agronomy Farm Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) site that has advanced precision and regenerative farming systems by enhancing nutrient and water use efficiency, water and air quality, soil health, and cropping system productivity.
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Predictive models to forecast the occurrence of low wheat Falling Number, a major wheat quality problem, using decades of statewide variety testing trial data.
The new facility will help scientists build on past accomplishments and incorporate the latest cutting-edge tools and technologies into their research. Through new innovations and rigorous, high-impact science, ARS and WSU researchers can significantly improve agriculture here in the Pacific Northwest.
The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.
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