Bayer CropScience opens its SeedGrowth Equipment Innovation Center, a $12-million, 135,000-square-foot facility situated on 11 acres of land in Shakopee, Minnesota. This center, focusing on the equipment design and manufacturing business, promotes advanced research and development on seed treatment products, seed coatings, equipment and services to provide holistic agricultural solutions to customers around the world.
The SeedGrowth Equipment Innovation Center will enable Bayer CropScience to deliver integrated crop solutions more rapidly by intensifying the research links between equipment, coatings and seed treatment products, strengthening the SeedGrowth division’s innovative power, according to Bayer.
Products originating from the SeedGrowth Equipment Innovation Center will be used to apply seed treatments and ensure application rates are in compliance with all government regulatory requirements. The ability to perform research at an improved rate will give growers new tools to manage the diverse demands of the food chain while maximizing the yield and quality of their crops.
Construction on the site began in August 2014. The SeedGrowth Equipment Innovation Center houses administrative offices, manufacturing and research and development activity, as well as technical services and training facilities for both external customers and Bayer CropScience employees. This includes 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space; 35,000 square feet of office, research and development and training facilities; and 45,000 square feet for future facility expansion. Approximately 50 people are employed at the facility.
