University of California and agricultural officials have broken ground for a $3 million, 20,000-square-foot greenhouse at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center near Parlier. Completion is projected in a year.

The greenhouse was the vision of the Kearney Agricultural Center's 25 faculty members, who formed a committee of eight scientists 15 years ago to plan and seek funding for the project. The 1998 passage of the Higher Education Capital Outlay Bond Fund provided funds for design and construction.