A rapidly growing population. Less farmland. Climate and water shifts. Emerging crop diseases and pests. The complex challenges of agriculture don’t fit into particular academic or research silos. Through the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI), we break down barriers to solving these and other grand challenges.

We are bringing together the brightest minds in academia, government and industry to drive vital research that increases crop yields, creates new varieties, extends growing seasons, enhances agricultural and environmental sustainability, and produces new and improved technology.

Our Vision

To create a healthier, resilient and more prosperous future through plant sciences innovation.

Our Mision

To solve grand challenges in agriculture and the environment in North Carolina and beyond through interdisciplinary science, workforce development and partnerships.

2025-30 Strategic Plan

Remaining true to the mission, vision and values that have guided our efforts from the start, the N.C. PSI 2025-30 Strategic Plan: Accelerating Innovation marks an evolution in our efforts to drive agricultural innovation through interdisciplinary plant sciences research, education and outreach. The focused plan is designed to keep us focused and yet agile enough to tackle the rapidly emerging challenges of modern agriculture,

Explore Our Strategy

Doing Plant Science Differently

Meeting today’s agricultural challenges requires powerful teams, strong partnerships, strategic technology and physical resources.

We are redefining team science, recognizing the value that talented professionals — whether they’re economists or engineers, marketers or meteorologists — can bring to plant science problems. Our location, at one of the nation’s major research universities and in the heart of the state’s booming Research Triangle Park, means a wealth of these valuable human resources surround us. So do opportunities to build partnerships that benefit everyone.

Drawing on this expertise helps us harness the power of data and technology in education, research and application. Then, we use these data to put our research into action, helping farmers and industry partners make real-time, informed decisions that lead to practical results.

Extraordinary Research Has an Extraordinary Home

The NC State University Plant Sciences Building on NC State’s Centennial Campus is the hub from which our impact spreads throughout the state and the world.

Explore the Plant Sciences Building