Remember when the Plum Island bio-weapons lab moved to Kansas? I hope there is NO connection there.

In January of 2017, the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense — now the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense (BCB) — held hearings at Kansas State University. Panel member Tom Daschle — former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and a target of one of the anthrax letters in 2001 — called the concentration of bio/agrodefense assets and capabilities here "the Silicon Valley for biodefense." This evolving innovation ecosystem around NBAF offers more than 50 acres for new building space, training facilities, and laboratories.

It's where government/university/industry research and development partnerships will provide solutions to existing and emerging biological threats that jeopardize U.S. agriculture — crops, livestock — food and people.

The Silicon Valley for Biodefense includes the following important partner resources:

NBAF

Biosecurity Research Institute

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Grain Science and Industry Complex

USDA's Center for Grain and Animal Health Research

Partnership Park

Plant Sciences: Agronomy and Plant Pathology

Veterinary Medicine Complex