The Hudson Valley Research Laboratory (HVRL) in Highland, New York, a partnership between Cornell AgriTech and growers, is set to sow the seeds of success, sustainability and resilience in Hudson Valley specialty-crop production, thanks to $1 million in capital funding from New York State.

The funding, announced July 10 at HVRL by New York State Sen. Michelle Hinchey (D-41st), will support critical infrastructure in the laboratory to help ensure efficiency, accessibility and security of critical research in the region.

The HVRL research station is supported by both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and farmer members of the Hudson Valley Research Laboratory, Inc.

“The Hudson Valley is one of our country’s most important agricultural regions, especially as the climate crisis devastates food production across other key agriculture states,” said Hinchey, chair of the Committee on Agriculture. “The innovation coming from Cornell’s Hudson Valley Research Lab, in partnership with local growers, is a beacon of hope in the face of these stark uncertainties for the future of our food supply, but to sustain its leadership in advanced research, the lab needs significant infrastructure upgrades.

“I’m proud to deliver a major investment,” she said, “to transform this facility into a state-of-the-art lab that will support vital, cutting-edge research to help New York farmers throughout their growing seasons and keep New York at the forefront of sustainable innovation.”

The Hudson Valley region is known for high-quality fruit production, yielding specialty crops and value-added products that are sold locally through direct farmer markets and distributed globally. Growers in the region face the challenges of variable climate conditions, as well as the more recent threat posed by invasive species such as the brown marmorated stink bug and the spotted lanternfly.

To address critical agronomic challenges, a collaborative partnership exists between CALS researchers, Cornell Cooperative Extension and local farmers at HVRL. Their goal is to provide science-based solutions to help secure the future of food production in the region.

While at HVRL, Hinchey engaged with leaders from the local grower community, CALS, AgriTech and the New York Farm Bureau to discuss these issues and the lab’s research initiatives.

“The value of the science that happens in this facility to commercial agriculture is priceless,” said  Sarah Dressel-Nikles ’11, HVRL board president, who owns a local multigenerational fruit farm. “The lab is the heartbeat of the region’s farming, and this investment will ensure that it can help carry Hudson Valley agriculture into the future.”

During Hinchey’s visit, scientists at HVRL demonstrated their proactive approach in assisting regional growers with invasive pests and climate-induced diseases. For instance, because the Hudson Valley is typically the frontline for New York’s invasive pests like the spotted lanternfly, lab scientists work to identify emerging issues ahead of the rest of the state in order to prevent them from becoming statewide problems.

“This funding will equip us to more effectively and innovatively develop science-based solutions,” said Jared Buono, HVRL director. “I could not be more excited about the lab’s future with the combination of new funding, new scientists and strong Cornell and grower partnerships.”

The visit highlighted collaboration with other Cornell programs, including New York State Integrated Pest Management, which utilizes HVRL facilities to explore biological controls for invasive pests and conduct field trials.

Hinchey also learned about the lab’s plans for agrivoltaics research, aligning with AgriTech’s vision to enhance agriculture sustainability across New York state through innovation.

Said Chris Smart, the Goichman Family Director of Cornell AgriTech and associate dean of CALS: “This funding from Sen. Hinchey will help bring AgriTech’s vision to reality in one of New York state’s most important agricultural regions and will allow our experts there to deliver more robust agricultural solutions for some of the biggest challenges on the road ahead.”

Erin Rodger is the senior manager of marketing and communications for Cornell AgriTech.