NBAF main building (July 2021 file photo) – courtesy USDA

Officials at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility have confirmed that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on May 24.

The announcement was first made public during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Agriculture last week by Sen. Jerry Moran to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

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Vilsack spoke to the importance of the mission at NBAF.

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The federal government selected Manhattan as the site for NBAF in 2009. Currently no research is happening at the facility as it will still take likely another two years to transfer the full science mission from Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York.