Monsanto Breaks Ground on $400M Chesterfield Village Research Center Expansion
Monsanto Company recently held an event to mark the beginning of the Chesterfield Village Research Center expansion. The company’s global hub for research and development and agricultural innovation is currently undergoing a $400 million expansion which was first announced in April 2013. The expansion project will create 675 new jobs in St. Louis over the next three years.
By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor
Monsanto Co. recently held an event to announce the the Chesterfield Village Research Center expansion. The company’s global hub for research and development and agricultural innovation is currently undergoing a $400 million expansion which was first announced in April 2013. The expansion project will create 675 new jobs in St. Louis over the next three years. 
Talking about the project Hugh Grant, chairman and CEO of Monsanto, said in a statement: “Our Chesterfield expansion is focused on strengthening our world-class capabilities in the discovery and development of innovations for farmers around the world. Meeting growing demand will require new ways of thinking and new technologies that today we can only imagine. As we look to the future, and work begins to expand this research facility, I’m reminded how important our mission to work together to help farmers produce more nutritious food in a sustainable way will continue to be.”
The agricultural products company is expecting to complete the Chesterfield Village expansion in 2017. The project plan calls for the addition of a number of new facilities, including a conference center, research building, 36 additional greenhouses, 13 Controlled Environment Agriculture rooms and 250 additional labs.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Hugh Grant, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Phoong Tang, Monsanto global cotton and specialty crop technology lead. “Today solidifies Missouri as the leading agriculture innovation hub in the country,” said Nixon. “Monsanto’s decision to expand its footprint and create hundreds of high-tech, high-paying jobs in this region is good for our state, our economy and our citizens.”
Monsanto awarded contracts to SmithGroupJJR, architect for the conference center; Jacob KlingStubbins, architect for the research building; Burns and McDonnell, architect for greenhouses; Alberici, construction manager for expansion project; and Tarlton Corp., contractor for parking garage.
“Our success reflects the many resources of the St. Louis region that we call home,” said Grant. “We are proud to invest here and look forward to continuing to be part of the region’s growth.”
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