Fargo, N.D. — The BNSF Railway Foundation recently made a $500,000 gift to the North Dakota State University Foundation in support of the Peltier Complex, NDSU’s future agricultural products development center.
“We have a history of supporting NDSU, and North Dakota is an incredibly important part of our railroad network,” Amy McBeth, BNSF regional director of public affairs, said. “For more than a century, we have moved agricultural products from North Dakota to markets around the country and world. Because of the importance of agricultural products to our customers and our railroad, it makes a lot of sense to make this gift.”
The Peltier Complex will bring together researchers, scientists, students, grower groups, and producers from NDSU, the Northern Crops Institute (NCI), and private industry to advance next generation products developed in North Dakota. It will house NDSU’s food science, meat science, and cereal science laboratories along with the NCI and the North Dakota Trade Office, creating more opportunities for communication and collaboration between different research groups, industry representatives, and domestic and international customers who buy the region’s agricultural commodities.
“There is a multi-state impact with this complex, and we’re proud to be able to support it,” McBeth said.
The facility will provide opportunities for researchers to ensure more value is added to agricultural products and better meet consumer needs as the global demand for agricultural commodities continues to grow. BNSF is integral to agricultural success in North Dakota and the region.
“BNSF Railway hauls the most agricultural commodities of any railroad, so to the extent that we can support efforts that continue to help our agricultural customers succeed and grow, we want to be able to do that. We see this complex as one more way to help support our customers and the region,” McBeth said.
The Peltier Complex will be located in the southwest corner of the NDSU campus. Construction is anticipated to begin in late spring 2022 and will take approximately 20-24 months to complete.
“We are incredibly grateful to the BNSF Railway Foundation for its ongoing support of NDSU, and this new investment is one more vote of confidence in the partnership we all share,” John R. Glover, president and CEO of the NDSU Foundation, said. “The Peltier Complex will be a game-changer for the region’s agricultural industry, and we couldn’t make this possible without private partners like BNSF.”
ABOUT BNSF
BNSF Railway has more than 1,200 employees who, along with their families, live and work in North Dakota. BNSF is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies, with a rail network of 32,500 route miles in 28 states and three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of the products and materials that help feed, clothe, supply and power communities throughout America and the world.
ABOUT NDSU FOUNDATION
The NDSU Foundation builds enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy to support North Dakota State University.
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CONTACT
Nicole Thom-Arens
Director of Communications
NDSU Foundation
(701) 231-6808 | 800-279-8971
nicole.thom-arens@ndsufoundation.com