The national biodefense lab belongs in Kansas  Steve Baccus

Steve Baccus serves as president of the Kansas Farm Bureau

As the representative of 40,000 Farm Bureau members in Kansas who are involved in the day-to day work of modern agriculture, I'm writing to support the location of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan.

    Farm Bureau members in Kansas understand that research will be vital to ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply. We know our livelihoods — and the stability of our state and national economies — rest on the detection and prevention of threats to agriculture.

    For decades, our members have depended on the nationally recognized expertise in animal-to-human diseases, infectious diseases and livestock medicine produced by the scientists at Kansas State University. As if that weren't enough, K-State is now home to the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI), a biosafety level-3 laboratory, and to the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center.

    That's why it makes sense to bring the NBAF to Manhattan. The construction of the BRI has already laid the groundwork for even more cutting-edge research at K-State. Bringing the NBAF — the nation's most secure, state-of-the-art research lab — to Manhattan would give Kansans the security that critical know-how and clinical facilities would be readily available in case of an emergency.

    In addition, locating the NBAF in the center of the country is just plain smart. With most of our nation's agricultural production taking place in the Midwest, shouldn't our premier research facility be here, as well?

    Some in Kansas have expressed a concern that the animal diseases to be studied at NBAF could spread to livestock in Kansas. Rest assured that the technology used in biocontainment labs and rigorous training received by workers in such facilities is designed to prevent that from happening. These are the very same technologies and practices that make research on serious human diseases safe in population centers like Atlanta, Ga., and Frederick, Md.

    In addition to the many assets at K-State, five major universities with strong animal science or veterinary research programs are within a 300-mile radius of Manhattan. With the addition of the NBAF facility, the opportunities for collaboration in the region are exciting, far-reaching and will no doubt be critical to the well-being of our nation's agriculture and public health. 

    Farmers and ranchers know how important food safety is to our economy and our nation's security. There's never been a more urgent need for the type of research that will take place at the NBAF, and that's why we support bringing it to Kansas.