CHAMPAIGN — On Friday, November 15, 2024, CABBI leadership and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign officials gathered to celebrate the opening of the Plant Biology Innovation Greenhouse at 1902 S Fourth St. in the Research Park.
The $252.5 million, U.S. Department of Energy-funded, facility marks a major milestone for the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) mission to drive scientific discoveries and technologies that support an economically viable and sustainable domestic biofuel and bioproduct industry.
“This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our commitment at this university to advancing research and innovation that addresses grand challenges in our world, sustainable energy solutions being among those,” said John Coleman, Provost and Executive Chancellor for Academic Affairs at U. of. I “This greenhouse will provide researchers with the advanced tools and intellectual environment they need to continue to make valuable advances in their work.”
The newly completed greenhouse incorporates energy-efficient design and cutting-edge technology, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. It includes a solar panel array, a plant phenotyping facility, walk-in growth rooms, and space for future expansion.
“We’re really excited about having this stable isotope facility because it allows us to deeply investigate the interactions between plants, microbes, and soil,” said Wendy Yang, Professor of Plant Biology and Geology and CABBI’s Sustainability Theme Leader.
The greenhouse will serve as a research hub for faculty and students from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the Grainger College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It will also provide undergraduate experiential learning opportunities through CABBI’s Research Internship in Sustainable Bioenergy, RISE.
Since its groundbreaking in September 2023, the CABBI greenhouse has been heralded as a game-changer for sustainable bioenergy research in Illinois and beyond. The innovative structure exemplifies the university’s commitment to tackling global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge facilities.
The event featured remarks by Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs John Coleman, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis, and Research Park Executive Director Laura Appenzeller, along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the facility’s official opening.
