Agriculture

Tracking NBAF: National Bio And Agro-Defense Facility Takes Shape In Kansas

In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to replace the old Plum Island Animal Disease Center off Long Island with a facility on the U.S. mainland to study Foot and Mouth Disease and other dangerous pathogens. Kansas won the job in 2008, with a site on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan.But today, more than three years later, the proposed $1.14 billion National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility faces funding obstacles, safety questions, rising costs and political fallout. For Kansas and the Midwest, the stakes couldn’t be higher.Here you’ll find coverage and updates from Harvest Public Media, KCUR and Kansas Public Media.

Governor: Bioscience Authority Controversy Won't Affect NBAF

KCUR | By Stephen Koranda

Published January 30, 2012 at 9:26 AM CST

An audit released recently alleges misdeeds by former Kansas Bioscience Authority head Tom Thornton. The KBA is one of the groups that worked to help Kansas land the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project.

But Gov. Sam Brownback does not believe criticism of the KBA will endanger the lab. He says the biggest challenge now will be securing federal funding for NBAF's construction.

"The federal budget is under significant strain, and we've got to fight for the things we want in the state of Kansas," Brownback said. "We're going to do that."

Congress has already approved $80 million for the project, but that's just a small piece of the more than $600 million needed to build the lab.

For more NBAF coverage, visit KCUR's NBAF page.