USDA Awards $16.2M for MSU Greenhouse Renovations
Cameron Rudolph - [email protected]
October 08, 2026
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The upgrade efforts, which will aid researchers in tackling agriculture's most pressing issues, are also supported by matching funds from MSU, totaling $32.5 million.
EAST LANSING, Mich. —
Through the Research Facilities Act Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) has awarded more than $16.2 million for Michigan State University’s ongoing Plant Science Research Greenhouse Complex renovations. MSU contributes matching funds to create over $32.5 million in new support for the project, securing the third-largest award among the total $121 million investment in research facilities nationwide.
The Research Facilities Act Program provides financial assistance for constructing, altering, or modernizing research facilities that host basic, applied, and developmental agricultural research. It prioritizes infrastructure that supports:
- Increasing agricultural productivity and profitability
- Strengthening domestic agricultural markets
- Promoting sustainable resource use
- Enhancing resilience against pests, diseases, and environmental pressures
"The USDA NIFA funding will benefit our researchers, staff, and students through high-quality greenhouse facilities," stated Matt Daum, associate provost and dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). "We are grateful to USDA for recognizing the importance of this project."
To date, MSU has invested approximately $40 million from state funds and university units in new construction and renovation of about 60% of the research greenhouses. The latest phase, completed in April 2026, brought LED lighting, environmental controls, taller ceilings, and glazing panels to the remaining 40%.
MSU's Commitment to Greenhouses
When USDA NIFA announced a request for proposals in June, MSU leaders saw an opportunity to enhance the greenhouses for their more than 400 users in CANR and the College of Natural Science.
"In a state with an unpredictable growing season, our greenhouses are critical for plant research," said Eric L. Hegg, dean of the College of Natural Science. "This funding will provide our faculty quality spaces and controlled environments to do what they do best—the unseen but vital research that lays the foundation for farmers, plant breeders, and agricultural innovators to better feed the world."
Beyond LED lighting, environmental controls, and taller ceilings, future upgrades throughout the complex will include automated shade and energy-efficient curtains.