Aug 24, 2020

For the Next Agricultural Revolution, Look to the Microbiome

A national task force led by scientists with NC State ties says the plant microbiome could be key to unlocking the agricultural revolution needed to feed a fast-growing world population.

Jun 30, 2020

Using Leaf Fungi to Improve Crop Resilience

An interdisciplinary team led by Christine Hawkes is identifying beneficial fungi found in five key crops with the aim of using them to help plants fend off diseases and tolerate drought stress.

May 27, 2020

Generational Generosity Supports Agribusiness Breakthroughs

Growing up in Rocky Mount, Bill Culpepper planned to go back home after graduation, but the Vietnam War and his introduction to agribusiness changed his plans and his life. Now, he and his family -- three generations Wolfpack strong -- are making a significant gift to the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative to support future agribusiness breakthroughs.

May 27, 2020

Big Data for Better Sweetpotatoes

An interdisciplinary team led by Cranos Williams is setting out on a three-year project to use artificial intelligence to make sweetpotatoes even more profitable. The team will image hundreds of thousands of sweetpotatoes to increase the percentage of sweetpotatoes grown that are USDA grade 1.

Owen Wagner (far left) and other foundational supporters for the Plant Sciences Initiative during the Plant Sciences Building groundbreaking on September 6, 2019.

May 13, 2020

Partner Profile: North Carolina Soybean Producers Association

The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association was one of the first commodity groups to pledge their support for the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI). Owen Wanger, CEO of the association, shares why it supports the N.C. PSI.

Apr 29, 2020

Plant Aid: A GRIP4PSI Big-Data Project to Detect Plant Diseases Faster

An interdisciplinary team led by professor Jean Ristaino will combine small sensors with big data for faster detection of the diseases plaguing tomato fields. From a hand-held plant disease ‘sniffer’ to a cloud-based database that can alert farmers about the cause of the stress and suggest possible mitigation strategies, the project aims to detect diseases early, improving yield.

Aerial of tractor spraying fields at Lake Wheeler farms.

Mar 30, 2020

Fertilizer of the Future

An interdisciplinary team led by Katharina Stapelmann is setting out on an ambitious three-year project to completely rethink how nitrogen-based fertilizers are produced and used. From on-farm fertilizer production to on-demand, precision irrigation, their project aims to cut energy use, protect the water supply and increase yields.

Dilip Panthee (center), researcher at Mountain Horticultural Research and Extension Center, looks over tomatoes in the farm's greenhouse as students tend to the plants.

Jan 29, 2020

Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Support N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

In honor of NC State’s past support and continued partnership, the North Carolina Greenhouse Vegetable Growers’ Association has donated $7,000 to the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative.

Dec 3, 2019

N.C. PSI, SAS to Harness the Power of Data

SAS will build off of its longstanding partnership with NC State and embed full-time data scientists within the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative to collaborate on various research efforts ensure a safe and sustainable food supply.

Chancellor Randy Woodson, Dean Richard Linton and USDA ARS Administrator Chavonda Jacobs-Young talking near a Plant Sciences Building display

Dec 2, 2019

Partner Profile: The USDA Agricultural Research Service

USDA Agricultural Research Service Administrator Chavonda Jacobs-Young is no stranger to the long partnership between NC State and the agency. The partnership benefits farmers and others in North Carolina and beyond, she says.