N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

Jan 6, 2026

NC State’s REFRAME Project Will Harness AI To Identify Business Opportunities in Crop Leftovers

NC State is leading efforts to develop an AI-enabled platform that can help farmers, processing plants and others identify new business opportunities in the bioeconomy. 

Dec 15, 2025

NC Agricultural Analytics Platform Supports Data-Driven Farming

From helping improve crop yield and profitability to supporting farmers with best management practices, the N.C. Agricultural Analytics Platform is shaping the future of agriculture. 

Oct 10, 2025

Unlocking Heirloom Corn’s Untapped Potential

To protect the future of America’s biggest crop, NC State researchers are cataloging traits in almost a thousand types of corn that were nearly lost to history. 

Oct 9, 2025

Researchers Share Images to Accelerate AI Use in Agriculture

An open-source plant image repository developed at NC State University could help close a gap in artificial intelligence for agriculture. 

Sep 12, 2025

From Computer Science to Crop Science

At 70 years old, Steve Amerige is working toward a doctoral degree in crop science using skills from his long career in software programming to develop new tools for precision agriculture. 

Aug 13, 2025

Seed2Grow Spotlight: Rooted-in-tech’s Ricardo Hernandez

Building on a decade of research into creating conditions ideal for plant growth, an NC State horticultural scientist has launched an ag tech startup to deliver high-quality seedlings tailored to farmers’ and gardeners’ needs. 

Jun 9, 2025

New Digital Tools Refine Cover Crop Selection

Members of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative’s Extension Agent Network help connect farmers with new agricultural technologies, such as the Cover Crop Selector, ensuring the emerging tools are field-ready. 

Jun 3, 2025

Kelliher Named Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing

Timothy Kelliher will join NC State University this July as the director of the Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Integrated with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ state-of-the-art Plant Sciences Initiative and its expertise in genome editing and CRISPR, the GEC is poised to revolutionize agriculture. 

May 19, 2025

Pioneering Biological Solutions for a More Sustainable World

Alumna Pam Marrone lands a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame — and lends her expertise to aspiring plant sciences entrepreneurs. 

Dec 3, 2024

Researchers Pit Lasers Against Sweetpotato Pest

With vinegar flies increasingly impacting sweetpotato storage, N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative researchers are exploring a novel management strategy with lasers to combat the pests.