With a $1500 grant from the Alabama legislature in 1897, Tuskegee founder Dr. Booker T. Washington secured the first Agricultural Experiment Station at an African-American institution of learning in the US. Dr. George Washington Carver was named its first director and, as is well known, his applied research on diversification and peanut research established for him and the University international recognition as a major contributor to a rebirth in the nation's agricultural economy.

Later named the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station, the GWCAES serves as a resource center for carrying out Tuskegee University’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach. In cooperation with other campus units and in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other institutions/agencies in the state, nation and world, GWCAES research and education programs are focused on: plant biotechnology , breeding and production ; integrated pest management ; animal production; animal molecular immunogenetics ; food safety, nutrition and health ; food technology/product development ;  food chemistry ;   agricultural and environmental engineering ; forest and natural resources management; waste management; environmental quality/justice ; and rural and community socioeconomic development .  

GWCAES Report for 2003-2004