COLUMBIA — The University of Missouri broke ground on two facilities Friday, both meant to facilitate animal science research and training. This comes after the MU Board of Curators meeting Thursday in Rolla, where the board announced plans to limit spending, implement purchasing controls, and institute immediate hiring restrictions.
The measures are meant to save the university $16 million for fiscal year 2025 and comes as federal funding — especially from the National Institutes of Health — is at risk for universities.
The first groundbreaking was for the Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory. The lab, which is slated to open in 2026, will provide increased resources and hands-on training for animal agriculture and meat sourcing research, along with more technology for workers in the meat processing industry.
With funding for university projects more up in the air after President Donald Trump's recent efforts to limit funds, the dean of MU's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources recognized the importance of state government funding.
"Investments like we're seeing here, at the meat science laboratory, and later with the vet med diagnostics, is a demonstration to the university of this state's commitment to the largest and most important industry to Missouri, and that's agriculture," Dean Christopher R. Daubert said.
Daubert said he understands the importance of increased funding for projects like these from his time growing up in a rural community.
"I am from a rural community in another state," Daubert said. "And I saw from an early age the impact that food processing and food manufacturing, that agriculture can have on the economy of the region. The companies that result from this initiative will mean meaningful employment opportunities for the state of Missouri."
Just a few hours later, MU held a grand opening for phase one of the Dr. Dan Brown Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and groundbreaking for phase two. Phase one includes improvements to classrooms and equipment for veterinary studies, while phase two is an expansion to the already-constructed VMDL. As part of the expansion, the Board of Curators voted on Thursday to name it after veterinarian and former state Sen. Dan Brown.
"Our goal is to, again, educate the students, to protect the agriculture sector, to protect animal health, to protect public health, and our economy and food security and food safety," VDML Director Suping Zhang said.
With federal and state funding less secure for colleges nationwide, Zhang recognized the contributions of federal and state donors, as well as private donors for the expansion efforts.
"This facility is by-large funded by state and also university and some from donors," Zhang said. "With the limited federal and state funding, of course donor funding becomes more and more important to us."
MU also announced on Wednesday it will partner with South Korean groups to design and build a new nuclear research reactor.
