Horticulture students transplanting seedlings – PHOTO: UW River Falls
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Horticulture students transplanting seedlings – PHOTO: UW River Falls
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The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents has approved two major capital project requests for UW-River Falls to strengthen the state’s $116.3 billion agricultural economy and train its next-generation workforce.
The decision advances funding requests for a new 48,000-square-foot Plant Science Discovery Center and design work for an updated Agricultural Sciences Complex. Together, the projects represent UWRF’s top capital priority and now head to the state Department of Administration for consideration in the 2027–2029 biennial budget.
“UW-River Falls plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders, scientists, and innovators,” said Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth. “We appreciate the Board of Regents’ support for projects that will help our students gain experience with advanced technologies transforming agriculture, including artificial intelligence, automation, and precision agriculture.”
The projects address urgent workforce demands. Agriculture and food processing support more than 350,000 Wisconsin jobs, yet nearly one-third of workers in the sector are 55 or older. UWRF remains a primary talent pipeline, seeing an 18% increase in new first-year agriculture students from fall 2024 to fall 2025 and awarding over 1,000 bachelor’s degrees between 2021 and 2025.
Modernizing Facilities for Industry Growth
The proposed $58.57 million Plant Science Discovery Center will replace aging greenhouses with modern laboratories and research spaces equipped with autonomous management systems, precision irrigation, and robotic monitoring.
The request also includes $8.5 million in non-UW cash funding to plan the renewal of the Agricultural Sciences Complex. Built decades ago, the current facilities face persistent infrastructure limits, aging mechanical systems, and space constraints that hamper advanced research and industry partnerships.
The upgrades will also benefit Wisconsin’s $292 million horticulture industry, which supports 1,750 businesses and more than 5,200 jobs across the state.
“These projects are about more than buildings,” Chenoweth said. “They are about preparing students for careers, supporting Wisconsin businesses, and ensuring the state’s agricultural industry remains a leader in innovation for decades to come.”
