Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences

What Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences does

Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences is an academic department within the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University, a public state university founded in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College and headquartered at 301 University Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado. The department conducts agricultural research, undergraduate and graduate education, and extension/outreach across five departments within the College, focusing on soil science, crop productivity, irrigation, organic agriculture, potato variety development, and climate-resilient cropping systems for Colorado's diverse high-elevation and semi-arid growing regions.

The department operates an integrated research infrastructure of eight centers across Colorado, anchored by the Plant Growth Facilities (over 60,000 sq ft of greenhouses, growth chambers, biocontainment chambers, teaching facilities, and a conservatory, managed by the Agricultural Experiment Station following a $1.4M+ renovation), the Western Colorado Research Center with three sub-stations (Orchard Mesa, Grand Valley, and the only fully certified organic land-grant research station in the country at Rogers Mesa), the San Luis Valley Research Center (potato variety development with a century-old seed certification program), and the Southwestern Colorado Research Center (over 40 years serving high-elevation growers). Research programs include agrivoltaics, integrated cropping systems, ecological pest management, variety trials, and tree fruit/wine grape specialization. The Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building provides classroom, conference, and event space.

The department's business model is non-commercial and grant- plus appropriation-funded. Revenue streams include federal/state research grants, state and CSU System appropriations, facility service fees for external users of greenhouses and growth chambers, extension service delivery to regional growers (seed certification, variety trials, agronomic consulting), industry partnership collaborations (notably with Nutrien as a flagship naming-rights and event sponsor), and community-facing programs including annual produce donations (approximately 20,000 lbs annually from Rogers Mesa to hunger relief organizations). Customer segments comprise prospective and current students, regional agricultural growers across Colorado's distinct climates, industry partners conducting collaborative research, and local communities served through extension programs. Distribution occurs via direct student enrollment through CSU admissions, extension programming at research centers, collaborative research agreements, and field-day demonstrations.

Name

Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences

Legal name

Colorado State University

Website

https://agsci.colostate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences is an academic department within CSU's College of Agricultural Sciences, conducting research, education, and extension across eight Colorado research centers covering soil science, crop productivity, organic agriculture, potato breeding, irrigation, and agrivoltaics for students, regional growers, and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Higher Education

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil Testing & Nutrient Analysis Services (AFACAKAA), Nutrient Management Planning & Fertility Programs (AFACABAB), Soil Health & Biological Testing Services (Microbial Activity, Organic Matter, Respiration) (AFACAKAD), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Agricultural research
• Soil science education
• Crop science programs
• Plant breeding research
• Extension services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins, Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: Funding from federal, state, and private sources for agricultural research projects
2. Agricultural Service Providers: Research centers provide services to regional growers including seed certification, variety trials, and agricultural consulting
3. Facility Services and Supplies: Plant Growth Facilities provide research space, equipment, and supplies to faculty, researchers, and students on a fee basis
4. Produce Donations and Hunger Relief: WCRC-Rogers Mesa donates approximately 20,000 lbs of produce annually to hunger relief organizations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences is an academic department within the College of Agricultural Sciences that provides undergraduate and graduate education, agricultural research, and extension/outreach services focused on soil science, crop production, and sustainable use of natural resources. The department operates a network of eight research centers across Colorado (including Plant Growth Facilities, Western Colorado Research Center with three sub-stations, San Luis Valley Research Center, and Southwestern Colorado Research Center), conducting variety trials, seed certification, and irrigation research for Colorado's diverse climate zones.

Product overview

Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences is an academic department within the College of Agricultural Sciences, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research services. The department operates as part of a broader network that includes the Agricultural Experiment Station, five academic departments, and multiple specialized research centers located throughout Colorado. The research infrastructure includes facilities such as the Plant Growth Facilities (over 60,000 sq ft of research space), the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building, and regional research centers in Western Colorado (with stations at Orchard Mesa, Grand Valley, and Rogers Mesa including its organic agriculture station), San Luis Valley, and Southwestern Colorado. These facilities support research in soil science, crop productivity, irrigation, organic agriculture, and high-elevation farming, while the department also provides academic degree programs from undergraduate to graduate levels and engages in outreach through CSU Spur.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Degree Programs in Soil and Crop Sciences Undergraduate and graduate degree programs in soil and crop sciences offered through the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University, serving prospective and current students seeking careers in agricultural sciences, food safety, sustainability, and natural resources.
• Western Colorado Research Center A network of three research stations (Orchard Mesa, Grand Valley, and Rogers Mesa) conducting research on high-elevation crop productivity, irrigation, soil development, tree fruits, wine grape production, and specialty crop diversification for Western Colorado growers.
• San Luis Valley Research Center A research center specializing in potato variety development, disease and pest control strategies, and maintaining a century-old seed certification program for Colorado potato growers and the San Luis Valley agricultural community.
• Southwestern Colorado Research Center A research center focused on high-elevation crop productivity, irrigation techniques, and developing new crop varieties including tree fruits and specialty berries for Southwestern Colorado, operating for over 40 years.
• Plant Growth Facilities An institutional core research facility managed by the Agriculture Experiment Station, housing over 60,000 square feet of research space including greenhouses, growth chambers, biocontainment chambers, teaching greenhouses, classrooms, and a conservatory. Supports 40 faculty and primary investigators, 250 research and support staff, and 300 undergraduate students.
• Organic Agriculture Research Station at Rogers Mesa A 100% certified organic research center at 5,800 feet elevation with a 125-day frost-free growing season, serving as a nationwide knowledge hub for organic agriculture in arid climates. Conducts research on ecological pest management, variety trials, and regional adaptation of annual crops on 80 acres (65 acres for certified organic tree fruits, table and wine grapes, organic seed production, and greenhouse cultivation). Donates approximately 20,000 lbs of produce annually to hunger relief organizations.
• Agricultural Experiment Station The research arm of the College of Agricultural Sciences conducting innovative agricultural research and providing outreach programs for students and communities as part of CSU's land-grant mission.
• Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building A building housing collaboration and special event spaces including classrooms, conference rooms, and social spaces available for college, university, and community partner use. Includes the Bernard Rollin Knowledge Well (Room 140, 161 occupancy), Capstone Classroom (Room 163, 61 occupancy), and various conference rooms.
• CSU Spur An extension facility as part of the Colorado State University system focused on agricultural education and outreach to broader Colorado communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 lbs of produce donated annually to hunger relief organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NutrienflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor corporate partnership including naming rights for the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building, annual Nutrien Ag Day BBQ sponsorship, and ongoing collaboration supporting agricultural education and research at CSU. Partnership highlights CSU's roots and elevates scholarship in the agricultural sciences.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Land-grant department with multi-station research infrastructure, similar to CSU's eight Colorado research centers. Comparable in agronomy, horticulture, and arid/semi-arid climate research.
• Oregon State University Department of Crop and Soil Science: Land-grant crop and soil science department with research stations, variety trials, and specialty crop work, including organic and high-elevation research analogous to CSU's Rogers Mesa operation.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences: Land-grant plant and agroecosystem department with similar soil science, cropping systems, and applied agronomic research mission, plus significant extension programming.
• Iowa State University Department of Agronomy: Land-grant agronomy department with deep soil testing, nutrient management, and crop variety research programs. Highly comparable in applied research orientation and extension service delivery.
• Purdue University Department of Agronomy: Land-grant agronomy department with strong soil fertility, crop production, and variety trial programs. Comparable scale, faculty composition, and applied research output.
• Kansas State University Department of Agronomy: Land-grant agronomy department focused on soil management and crop production in semi-arid Great Plains conditions, comparable in regional climate challenges and extension model.
• Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences: Shares the exact same departmental name and structure as CSU, with identical research and extension missions. Operates multiple research stations across Texas and is a flagship peer in land-grant crop and soil science.
• UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences: Land-grant university department conducting crop science, soil science, and applied agricultural research at scale. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and research scope to CSU Soil & Crop Sciences, with a similar land-grant extension model.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Crop Sciences: Land-grant crop sciences department with strong variety development, soil fertility, and digital agriculture programs. Comparable in faculty scale and applied research output.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Agricultural Research Service: Federal agency conducting nationwide agricultural research across crops, soils, and climate adaptation. Comparable in research scope but operates as a federal incumbent rather than a single university department.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CSUAgSci
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWLqc7mVsXQH7uesJE5BfUQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSUAgSci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csusoil-crop-science
• Instagraminstagram.com/csuagsci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado State University Soil & Crop Sciences