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Underground Plant Growth Facility at Marengo,
Indiana
The 21st Century Research & Technology Fund is a state program
that encourages innovation by cooperation between business and university
researchers. Cary Mitchell, a Purdue professor of horticulture, worked
with Controlled Pharming Ventures, LLC to obtain a $2 million grant
from the 21st Century Fund to develop an underground plant growth facility
in a former limestone mine in southern Indiana. Some of the equipment
in Controlled Pharming’s buildings arose from research by Mitchell,
working with NASA on growth systems that would allow astronauts to raise
crops in space and on the moon and Mars.
Links to Articles about the Facility
| Pictured below is the entry into the Marengo Warehouse
facility located in a former limestone mine and views of the GrowthStar
plant-growth facility inside it. Also pictured is corn grown in the
facility. The map depicts where the mine has more than 60 acres of
underground area for expansion of this facility. Along with consistently
cool temperatures and elevated CO2 levels for photosynthesis, the
mine is weather-proof. The picture of the destroyed greenhouse is
from a tornado that struck a biosafety level 3 USDA research greenhouse.
The town of Marengo was struck by a tornado in 2005 resulting in property
damage (last image) and--sadly--loss of life. The GrowthStar was competely
unharmed by the tornado which struck about 200 yards away. Click on
an image to view a larger version. Images will open in a new window. |
