UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 13, Page 1
December 1, 1994
New ag biotech facility to focus on research

     The University of Delaware broke ground Nov. 21 for a new $7
million agricultural biotechnology center and biocontainment facility.
     Supported by the federal, state, University and private sectors,
the new facility will be located east of Townsend and Worrilow halls,
home of the College of Agricultural Sciences.
     At the groundbreaking ceremony last week, University President
David P. Roselle reported that half of the funds already have been
raised, including $1.7 million of the expected $3.5 million from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and $700,000 of the expected $1
million from the state. The $4.5 million from the public sector will
be matched by $1.5 million from the poultry and allied industries and
$1 million in private donations raised by the University.
     "At the very base of all of this is that we have a really good
product," Roselle said. "We have excellent faculty who work generally
in the area of avian disease, and we're pleased to have this
attestation, if you will, to their good work." He called the support
from the poultry industry "a wonderful endorsement of what we're
doing."
     Delaware is the fourth largest area of poultry production in the
United States, and 70 percent of agricultural dollars in Delaware are
generated by the poultry industry. Sussex County has the highest
concentration of poultry production in the nation, which also makes it
a prime location for poultry diseases that could threaten the
industry.
     The new facility will enable the University's internationally
recognized poultry research team to respond to the critical issues
that affect the industry and thus the state's economy.
     "The facility will position our poultry research team to make
immediate progress in the development of genetically engineered
vaccines and diagnostic tools. This laboratory also will assist us in
working on food safety issues," John C. Nye, dean of the college,
said.
     U.S. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. noted that, "for the state of
Delaware and the whole Delmarva peninsula, this poultry facility means
continued first-class support for the major component of the
agriculture industry, which continues to lead our economy.
     "And again, there's a national dimension to the local interest,
because not only has poultry become a major element in our own
national diet, but it is also one of the strongest leaders among the
exports we need as we strive to even our balance of trade with the
rest of the world," he said.
     "In this case, what's good for Delaware is vital for America, and
there's no doubt that this facility is going to be good for Delaware,"
Biden said
     Patrick Jordan, administrator with the USDA's Cooperative State
Research Service, said, "If you think these folks are just being nice
to you in telling you how good this research team is, let me tell you
it's true. My business is quality verification for the people of the
United States, and I'm here to tell you that it's absolutely true what
they tell you about the quality of work that's been done here."
     He added, "You do have here the finest leadership, not only in
your deans, both past and present, but in Dr. [John K.] Rosenberger,
[chairperson of the Department of Animal Science and Agricultural
Biochemistry], you have one of the premiere leaders in poultry
diseases in the world."
     Gerald B. Truitt Jr., of the Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc., said
the Delmarva Peninsula is the most highly concentrated poultry area in
the country, making it highly susceptible to poultry health problems.
"The industry has overcome this disadvantage due in large part to the
work done over the years here at the University of Delaware, first in
diagnosing the problems and then in developing vaccines, where needed,
to contain these problems."
     He added that the contribution to this new facility by Delmarva
poultry companies and allied industries "shows not only how critical
poultry health issues are in our area but is a tribute to the
confidence and respect they have for the staff here at the
University."
     Delaware Rep. V. George Carey said, "The University of Delaware's
College of Agricultural Sciences has provided tremendous support to
the agriculture community. Certainly a part of the success of the
poultry industry in Delaware is a result of the excellent poultry
disease diagnostic program.... I'm very pleased that the General
Assembly has been able to support this project. We look forward to the
dedication of the building and to the results of the research that
will be conducted in this laboratory."
     "The college's efforts in research, diagnostics and education
have saved the poultry industry millions of dollars annually,"
Rosenberger, 1994 recipient of the University's Alison Award, said.
"If the department is to continue to be a leader and appropriately
serve industry, it must improve its capabilities in regard to the
evolving biotechnologies and its ability to respond to 'exotic'
disease such as avian influenza and velogenic New Castle disease.
     "A containment facility will help the University respond to
continued disease threats that can affect the survival and economic
competitiveness of the local poultry and allied industries,"
Rosenberger said.
     The 15,000-square-foot facility will house two containment
laboratory suites with rooms that provide for isolation work with
infectious agents. Additional rooms will be entered through airlocks,
and four will have shower in/out capability to prevent the
introduction or release of infectious agents. The building also will
house three small offices and a seminar-classroom to accommodate up to
50 persons.
     The new building is scheduled for completion in the fall of 1996.