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Planting a Seed

North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative

Man with drone flying over farm field

Dec 8, 2020

Initiatives to Make N.C. Agriculture a $100 Billion Powerhouse

Three major NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences initiatives aim to transform agriculture and agribusiness. 
silos in the background of a farm

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. 
A bunch of sweetpotatoes

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. 
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. 
Ross Sozzani talks with Jessica Gluck during the Nov. 13 ideation session

Nov 18, 2019

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. 
On a stage in front of a big architectural rendering, North Carolina agricultural research station superintendents pose with soil they brought from 18 stations.

Sep 11, 2019

Planting a Seed

NC State University celebrates the groundbreaking for a state-of-the-art Plant Sciences Building.