In 2024, North Carolina agriculture and agribusiness reached a new peak of $111 billion in economic impact, with 70% of that impact attributed to food animal sectors in livestock, dairy and poultry. NC State University’s Food Animal Initiative (FAI) remains committed to ensuring that workforce development and research in food animal agriculture remains tantamount to the university’s mission to support and advance the agriculture industry.
This spring, the FAI assembled a launch committee, chaired by Associate Professor and Dairy Extension Specialist Stephanie Ward, to define priorities and programs associated with the needs of food animal stakeholders in North Carolina. Representing the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and the College of Human and Social Sciences (CHASS), these faculty will bring strategic direction to furthering the initiative’s efforts in the FAI’s five platforms:
- Integrated Systems for Food Animal Health and Food Safety (OneHealth)
- Integrated, Sustainable Food Animal Systems
- Digital Animal Agriculture
- Protein Innovation
- Food Animal Agriculture Communications
“With agriculture as North Carolina’s top industry and a growing appetite for healthy animal protein, the future of the state’s animal agriculture sector is bright,” says Garey Fox, dean of NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “We are enthusiastic about the interdisciplinary leadership of NC State University’s Food Animal Initiative, uniting expertise from CALS, CVM and CHASS. The Food Animal Initiative will spearhead critical investments in workforce development, research and extension, shaping a thriving future for this vital industry.”
Meet the FAI platform directors:
- Integrated Systems for Food Animal Health and Food Safety
Rocio Crespo
Professor of Population Health and Pathobiology
College of Veterinary Medicine - Integrated, Sustainable Food Animal Systems
Stephanie Kulesza
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Nutrient Management and Animal Waste
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - Digital Animal Agriculture
Gustavo Machado
Associate Professor of Emerging and Transboundary Diseases
College of Veterinary Medicine - Protein Innovation
Dana Hanson
Associate Professor, Department Extension Leader for Meat Science
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - Food Animal Agriculture Communications
Andrew Binder
Associate Professor of Communication
College of Human and Social Sciences
Ben Chapman
Department Head of Agricultural and Human Sciences, Professor, and food safety Extension Specialist
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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