The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday opened a new $19 million, 35,000-square-foot office and laboratory yesterday near Hilo, Hawai'i.

The facility, which is run by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, will be used to conduct research on Hawai'i's exotic tropical crops.

"Our researchers develop new, environmentally friendly ways for Hawai'i's growers and home gardeners to raise premium tropical and subtropical crops — from bananas to papayas," Agricultural Research Service administrator Edward Knipling said in a news release.

"Our research has helped reduce the need for pesticides (and) open new markets for Hawai'i-grown fresh produce," Knipling said.

The new Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center facility was formally opened following an afternoon ceremony.

In years past, collaboration between the Agricultural Research Service and University of Hawai'i scientists resulted in papaya plants that resist the ring spot virus and the development of technologies to control tropical fruit flies.

"Our research has helped reduce the need for pesticides, open new markets for Hawai'i-grown fresh produce and unlock secrets about genes that hold the key to boosting plants' ability to survive drought or resist attack by disease," Knipling said.

The new scientific facility is about four miles from downtown Hilo in a science and technology park managed by the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.

The Agricultural Research Service is the chief scientific research agency of USDA.