Rodale Institute

The new research center will improve Rodale’s capabilities of soil, seed and plant research that supports organic agriculture. The facility will include state-of-the-art research labs, shared equipment areas and separated clean/dirty lab space.

Approximately half of the building is dedicated to labs for chemistry, biohazard materials (swine parasite research), animal science (entomology, pathology and genomic studies), insect rearing and robotics/advanced technologies. A climate controlled and pest proof archive room holds samples of vegetables, soil core and corn biomass. The remainder houses greenhouses with dedicated headhouse space, growth chambers, offices and conference rooms.

Samples collected in field station experiments are brought into the lab to be processed (dried, ground, weighed and inspected) for analysis, then archived. Researchers required better separation between these dirty and clean functions to improve the quality of data.

The new space will allow the research to continue to evolve through the design of flexible and nimble labs. An integrated tour route will allow visitors to appreciate and better understand the research.

Rodale Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to growing the regenerative organic agriculture movement through rigorous research, farmer training and education. The institute focuses on fighting pests, disease and weeds without synthetic chemicals, and helping farmers adapt to climate change.