If you peek into the transparent windows lining the SEED Campus laboratories, you might see hundreds of soil samples laid out in Petri dishes inside the Research Lab. They’re part of an urban soil study being conducted in campus research plots, where Davey Institute scientists are analyzing compacted soil’s chemical properties and density.
Next door in the Diagnostic Lab, you’ll find more soil — alongside leaf and water samples. They’re among the 3,100+ samples from client properties the team processes each year, testing for pests, disease, fertility, water quality, and more.
The work happening in our new, expanded labs underscores our 145-year commitment to science and research. And since they opened in June following a USDA inspection, “we’ve taken full advantage of the space,” says Kodi Riedel, Diagnostic Laboratory Supervisor.
Room to Grow and Discover
Previously, research and diagnostic laboratory functions shared a single space. Now, each has its own 1,320-square-foot space. For the scientists who work in each lab, space makes all the difference.
“Having the additional space is huge,” Kodi says, because it can accommodate the growing number samples the lab receives from Davey offices each year. “We now have the space to take care of all those samples, spread them out as we need to.”
On the research side, Zane Raudenbush, Manager of Research Operations, says replication – to the tune of being able to examine and spread out upwards of 400 samples and control the space for things like humidity and temperature – is critical. More bench and tabletop space allows them to do just that.
New Tools, New Capabilities
New technology is also expanding what the labs can do.
With the addition of molecular equipment and a dedicated room, the Diagnostic Lab will soon be able to extract DNA from the samples it receives and conduct molecular testing. These services are currently outsourced; bringing them into the Davey Institute’s facilities will streamline diagnostics and reduce costs for offices.
In addition, new sterile hoods and an autoclave for equipment sterilization bring both labs up to state-of-the-art research standards.
From Employee Input to Industry Innovation
Like the rest of the campus, labs were built for and in coordination with Davey employees, who have been involved in conversations about shaping the space since 2021.
The labs will also benefit clients by strengthening our ability to advance the green industry through innovation and deliver the latest science-backed solutions.
“Providing solutions to clients has always been front-of-mind,” Zane says. “But now we have the space to develop field studies that are answering the questions our clients have right here in this space, and control variables that could impact the quality of the study.”
