Stories From 2025
Animal Reproduction Research in Japan
SUMMER 2025 Jasmine Alston I was able to conduct research on the effect of low estrogen levels on kisspeptin (KISS1) neuron activity in female Wistar-Imamichi rats. The KISS1 gene is essential for GnRH regulation, LH surges, and FSH surges in […]
Digging Into Dutch Agriculture
A group of CALS students recently expanded their agricultural knowledge and cultural horizons during a seven-day study abroad course in the Netherlands and Germany where they learned about horticultural crop production techniques, agribusiness and agricultural policy, and sustainable farming.
NC State Students Develop Award-Winning Nutritious Snack Bar for Kenyan Schools
The Kijani Bar, a snack bar developed by NC State students, is bringing new hope to the fight against childhood malnutrition in Kenya. Designed for the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association’s (IFTSA) Developing Solutions for Developing Countries competition, the bar is packed with African indigenous vegetables and aims to provide essential nutrients to schoolchildren while supporting local agriculture in Kenya.
African Indigenous Vegetables Take Center Stage at NC State Field Day
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently hosted an African Indigenous Vegetables (AIV) Field Day at the Horticultural Field Laboratory. The event brought together researchers, extension agents, university staff and community members to learn about the progress of a project focused on African leafy greens and their potential for both local and international impact. The field day was part of an ongoing collaboration between NC State and partners in Kenya.
Moldovan Delegation Explores Extension in Action at NC State’s Aquaculture Field Laboratory
Four faculty members from the Technical University of Moldova (TUM) recently spent a day touring NC State’s Pamlico Aquaculture Field Laboratory (PAFL) in Aurora, NC, as part of a two-week visit aimed at understanding how research and extension programs collaborate to support agriculture and rural communities across North Carolina.
Trade and Ag Experts Converge at NC State
The world’s grand challenges don’t conform to the boundaries between academic disciplines—or the borders between nations. Trade decisions made in Brussels have profound effects on oil palm farmers in Malaysia. A war between Ukraine and Russia cuts off access to fertilizer for farmers on the Indian subcontinent.
Benefits of North Carolina Adopting African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables
Adopting African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables in North Carolina offers a triple-win: economic opportunity for growers, improved nutrition for communities, and a more sustainable, resilient agricultural system. With proper extension support, marketing channels, and education, these vegetables could become a valuable asset to North Carolina’s diverse and evolving agricultural landscape.
NC State and Moldova Forge Path for Agricultural Innovation and Education
NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is strengthening its partnership with the Technical University of Moldova (TUM) to enhance agricultural education, research and innovation in the Eastern European nation. Building on decades of ties between North Carolina and Moldova, this collaboration is now focused on modernizing Moldova’s agricultural sector and preparing its workforce for the challenges of the 21st century.
Institute Cultivates Tomorrow’s Food and Ag Leaders
In early April, 70 teens took part in the 2025 North Carolina Youth Institute. The two-day event gave them the chance to interact with university students and faculty members, to take part in experiential workshops and to share their ideas for addressing global challenges in food, agriculture and sustainability.
Simon Fraher: Sweetpotato Genetics PostDoc
Simon Fraher is a highly skilled vegetable breeder finishing his doctorate this spring semester with NC State University’s Sweetpotato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Programs. His focus is to benefit the sweetpotato community with molecular marker development for guava root knot nematodes and pioneering genomic selection research. These breeding efforts bolster North Carolina’s economy as a leading sweetpotato producer and help address food and nutritional insecurity in tropical regions around the world.