View source for National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research

The '''National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research''' ('''NCAUR''') (sometimes still called the '''Northern Lab'''; known locally as the '''Ag Lab''') is a [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[laboratory]] center in [[Peoria, Illinois]].  The Center researches new industrial and food uses for agricultural commodities, develops new technology to improve environmental quality, and provides technical support to federal regulatory and action agencies.<ref name="ars12754">{{cite web
  | url = http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12754
  | title = NCAUR Overview
  | publisher = [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agricultural Research Service]]
  | date = 2006-04-07
  | accessdate = 2008-02-28
}}</ref>

With approximately {{convert|270000|sqft|m2|sp=us}}, NCAUR is the largest of the [[Agricultural Research Service]] (USDA-ARS) research centers.  The world-renowned ARS Culture Collection is maintained at this facility.<ref name="ars12754" />

==History==
NCAUR was one of four regional labs set up by the [[Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938]], when [[Peoria, Illinois]] was chosen to host this facility, named the '''Northern Regional Research Laboratory''' ('''NRRL''').  The other regional labs set up by the 1938 act are located in [[Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania]] ([[Eastern Regional Research Center]]), [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] ([[Southern Regional Research Center]]), and [[Albany, California]] ([[Western Regional Research Center]]).

The Northern Lab was renamed the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in 1990.

The Northern Lab developed one of the first industrialized production techniques for [[penicillin]]. This development was led by [[Andrew J. Moyer]].<ref name="inventhof">{{Cite web |url= http://www.invent.org/honor/inductees/inductee-detail/?IID=107 |title= Andrew J. Moyer |publisher= National Inventors Hall of Fame |access-date= March 18, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170202062427/http://www.invent.org/honor/inductees/inductee-detail/?IID=107 |archive-date= February 2, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref> This and other early scientific accomplishments set a standard of research excellence at NCAUR, generating global and enduring impact and consistently bringing credit to the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] and its [[Agricultural Research Service]]. The late agricultural researcher [[Dr. Ed Bagley]], who had been a professor at [[Washington University in St. Louis]] before coming to Peoria, was involved in finding new and better ways to improve the removal of carcinogens (and the discontinuation of their use) from corn and soy crops.  Another example of their work is the development of [[soybean]]s from a small forage/rotation crop to the second largest and most valuable row crop in the U.S.<ref name="ars12754" />

==Operation==
NCAUR's 35 current research (CRIS) projects are mission-driven, reflecting the USDA Agricultural Research Service's National Research Programs.{{Clarify|date=February 2008}}  More than 250 research personnel from nearly a dozen scientific disciplines are divided into nine teams.  Their charge is to use basic and [[applied science]] techniques to create ideas, knowledge and solutions for high priority national research problems.<ref name="ars12754" />

These scientists publish an average of 190 peer reviewed journal publications submitted per year, frequent invitations to present findings at national and international meetings, and continued issuance of [[patent]]s and licensed technology. [[Technology transfer]] is facilitated through numerous collaborations with universities, private industry, trade associations and other government agencies.<ref name="ars12754" />

The NCAUR facility is also home to the headquarters of the Midwest Area of the [[Agricultural Research Service]], which includes ARS facilities in [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]], [[Iowa]], [[Kentucky]], [[Michigan]], [[Minnesota]], [[Missouri]], [[Ohio]], and [[Wisconsin]].<ref name="ars12754" />

==See also==
* [[Penicillin]]

==References==
{{USGovernment|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12754|title=NCAUR Overview|agency=United States Department of Agriculture|work=[[Agricultural Research Service]]}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/peoria-il/national-center-for-agricultural-utilization-research/ National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research: Peoria, IL] — official site
* [https://nrrl.ncaur.usda.gov/ ARS Culture Collection]
* [http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/site_main.htm?modecode=36-20-00-00 National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research] — old website

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[[Category:1938 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Agricultural research institutes in the United States]]
[[Category:Education in Peoria, Illinois]]
[[Category:United States Department of Agriculture facilities]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Peoria, Illinois]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Illinois]]