North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lightning Round: Knitting Networks and Seeding Solutions
The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative organized a lightning session on Wednesday, Nov. 13 designed to spark research collaborations to tackle grand challenges, whether they ended up being focused on plant sciences or not.
Planting a Seed
NC State University celebrates the groundbreaking for a state-of-the-art Plant Sciences Building.
Partner Profile: BASF Renews Its Partnership with NC State
Peter Eckes, president of BASF Bioscience Research, joined NC State officials recently to renew a five-year research agreement.