Feb 23, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Researchers at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Resource Innovation Institute have formally launched a public-private research initiative to assess the possibility of colocating large-scale greenhouses with data centers in North Dakota.
As part of the initiative, US data center operator Applied Digital will provide site access, funding, and operational expertise to support the study. The research will take place at the company’s Polaris Forge 2 facility near Harwood, North Dakota, where researchers will assess whether surplus heat from data center operations can be captured and repurposed for controlled-environment agriculture.
According to the partners, the project aims to tackle two structural challenges in North Dakota: short growing seasons caused by long winters and the substantial volumes of low-grade waste heat produced by data centers. The study will therefore examine a proposed “Farm Park” model that would combine advanced greenhouse vegetable production with an operational data center campus.
“We try to be creative and community-minded as we site our facilities,” said Nick Phillips, EVP of external affairs. “When NDSU approached us to contribute to their research collaboration with RII, we were pleased to contribute matching funds, evaluate potential land availability, and support the study with the participation of our team.”
“Applied Digital deserves leadership recognition for opening the possibilities of what data center development could bring,” said Derek Smith, executive director of RII. “Just think how effectively we could advance community resilience in the U.S. if data center developers and operators routinely explored these types of public-private partnerships.”
