About the Department

exterior view of the Biorenewables Complex entry doors

We are faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, and scholars, all engaged in and committed to learning, discovery, and outreach.

Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food, fiber and other biological products. Learn more about our mission and vision.

Current research efforts include agricultural water quality and management, engineering for economically and environmentally sound animal production systems, grain handling and food processing, agricultural machine design and automated controls, precision farming systems, agricultural safety, seed conditioning and processing, and soil tillage and management systems. Learn more about our research efforts.

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering resides in both the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

  • Nationally-ranked undergraduate and graduate degree programs

    by U.S. News and World Report magazine

The Biorenewables Complex

The Biorenewables Complex includes Elings Hall, Sukup Hall and the Biorenewables Research Laboratory.

Elings Hall includes technology ready classrooms, student services and space for faculty and graduate students. Sukup Hall houses many educational and research laboratories critical to enhancing the department’s global impact. These structures are connected by an 8,000-square-foot atrium to the Biorenewables Research Laboratory.

Elings Hall and Sukup Hall bring together the faculty, programs and facilities necessary to educate students who will provide creative and innovative solutions for a global economy. The complex facilitates education, research, extension, and international efforts. It also serves to develop international partnerships, improve agriculture and animal production systems, enhance biorenewable fuel production and harvesting, and process biological components to produce energy.

Contact Us!

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
1340 Elings Hall
605 Bissell Road, Ames, IA 50011-3270

Phone: 515-294-9449