By Chad Saleska
Surrounded by freshly picked produce and artfully crafted bouquets, Gisele White discovered not only a future academic path but also a welcoming community.
Growing up in Palm Beach, Florida, White was unfamiliar with the community-based agriculture thriving in North Carolina. Seeing that community in action during a trip to the State Farmers Market in 2019 provided the catalyst for White’s decision to become an agricultural science major through NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
“I don’t come from an agricultural background, so choosing this major was a bit of a surprise,” White says.
“I was overwhelmed by the sense of community and support amongst the local farmers [in North Carolina]. I asked questions at so many booths, and each grower was welcoming and knowledgeable.”
The growers White talked to that day share the same passions White has now developed at NC State.
“The underlying theme of all the conversations was the passion each farmer had for feeding people and making connections through food,” White says. “I knew then I wanted to learn as much as possible about cultivating plants to feed communities.”
Nurtured Through the Agroecology Farm
White’s time at NC State began before she was a student, volunteering at CALS’ Agroecology Education Farm (AEF) while finishing her associate’s degree at Wake Tech Community College. What she discovered while working at AEF cemented her decision to attend NC State.
“I was so impressed with the student involvement,” says White, who has been a paid student worker at AEF since 2023. “Students have a direct hand in cultivating vegetables that get sent to NC State Dining. I wanted to be a part of this interactive agricultural experience that keeps our Wolfpack community well fed and thriving.”
The benefits White’s received from her AEF hands-on experiences go beyond the fundamentals.
“At AEF, I’ve gained experience in sustainable farming practices, like the benefits of low-till farming and the importance of biodiversity in farming environments,” White says.
“I have also learned leadership skills by leading volunteer workdays and educational tours as well as planning interactive events, like natural-dye and tea-making workshops from crops grown on the farm.”
Using Hands-on Technology to Aid Farmers
In addition to working at AEF, White has gained firsthand research experience as a lab intern under the direction of Ramon Leon Gonzalez in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.
“Interning has demonstrated the essential role of research in understanding the mechanisms that lead to productive farming and produce the highest yields for farmers,” White says. “I learned how to interpret data, interact with Extension agents and investigate the vital role of technology in improving agriculture practices.”
As a result of this internship, she earned a job researching plant microbiology. That research focused on using drones and Geographic Information System (GIS) software to map field areas and determine the best herbicide application rates. The data offers growers the best plan of action to remove weeds and improve yields.
Training the software to recognize the difference between weeds and crops was the tricky part.
“I spent time meticulously outlining corn versus weeds on large drone images,” White says. “Once I trained the software, it created mosaic images that highlighted the weeds in different colors from the corn and soil.”
White’s team then distributes the interpreted images to field station workers to aid decision-making and predict crop yields.
“The maps provide a clear plan as to which areas of the field have higher concentrations of weeds and need herbicide application,” White says. “We also use the images to estimate yield ratios by interpreting the percentage of the field with weeds and those only filled with corn.”
Prepared to Pursue Passions
White graduates in spring and plans to enter the workforce in the Triangle region.
“Following graduation, I’d like to enter industry as a farm apprentice,” White says, “or find a research and development role in the Raleigh-Durham area.”
White also has a long-term passion project in mind which includes a community aspect.
“I’m saving to obtain land to start a lavender and rosemary farm,” White says. “I would also reserve a portion of the land to grow organic produce and to host educational workshops on organic herbal extracts.”
