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Contact

College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Mailing Address:
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2331
Moscow, ID 83844-2331

Phone: 208-885-6681

Fax: 208-885-6654

Email: Dean Parrella

Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment

As Idaho’s statewide, land-grant institution, the University of Idaho is proud to address critical problems of worldwide importance through the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE). Agribusiness is a critical part of Idaho’s diverse economy and an important employer. Livestock, dairy, crop production and food processing are growing sectors that intersect in challenging ways — in Idaho and beyond.

The center will be a leader in addressing constraints on water usage and environmental quality while supporting the agricultural sectors of dairy, livestock and cropland, as well as the food processing industries. A partnership between education, industry and economic development stakeholders will result in dynamic research and education to develop solutions to complex problems.

Research at CAFE will cover a broad range of areas including:

  • Agricultural economics impact, sustainability and labor management
  • Agriculture commodity risk management
  • Animal health, productivity and genetic improvement
  • Food safety
  • Food science and manufacturing
  • Forage cropping and agronomy
  • Green energy production and energy-use conservation
  • Nutrient and wastewater management
  • Odor and emissions control
  • Precision agriculture and technology
  • Production management
  • Soil health and fertility
  • Value-added products
  • Water use and protection

Project timeline

  • March 2019 — Purchased dairy land in partnership with Idaho Dairymen’s Association
  • March 2022 — State of Idaho appropriates funds for a CAFE project manager and research support staff
  • May 2022 — Chobani commits $1 million to CAFE (research dairy)
  • September 2022 — Approval from Idaho Board of Land Commissioners to invest $23 million from land sale into the research dairy
  • January 2023 — Out to bid for phase I construction of the research dairy (site work and milking parlor)
  • February 2023 — Congressman Simpson secures $1 million in community project funding to support nutrient management technology at the research dairy
  • March 2023 — State of Idaho appropriates funds for three faculty positions to support CAFE (forage specialist, air quality specialist, ruminant nutritionist)
  • May 2023 — Phase I construction begins at research dairy
  • March 2024 — Congressman Simpson secures $2 million in community project funding to support nutrient management technology at the research dairy
  • March 2024 — Out to bid for phase II construction of the research dairy (maternity/pharmacy barns, commodity storage, nutrient management)
  • Summer 2024 — Phase II construction begins at research dairy
  • Early 2025 — First cows milking at the research dairy

Contact

College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Mailing Address:
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2331
Moscow, ID 83844-2331

Phone: 208-885-6681

Fax: 208-885-6654

Email: Dean Parrella

Contact

College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Mailing Address:
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2331
Moscow, ID 83844-2331

Phone: 208-885-6681

Fax: 208-885-6654

Email: Dean Parrella