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N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

AgTech360

Join us as we take a 360° view into emerging agriculture technologies by creating dialogue among academia, industry, entrepreneurs, growers, producers, Extension specialists, the sustainability community and other essential stakeholders.

Hosted by Adrian Percy, Executive Director, N.C. PSI

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NEW EPISODE

Data and AI Driving AgTech Breakthroughs

June 10, 2024
Modern data analytics and artificial intelligence tools are empowering farmers to make faster, more informed decisions on everything from field management to post-harvest processes. Hear more from Dan Maycock, vice president of CropTrak and a visiting researcher at NC State.

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Phosphorus deficiency in wheat

Previous Episodes

research test plots showing wheat plants of different sizes

Phosphorus: Managing Ag Benefits, Protecting Water

May 9, 2024
14 minutes

Byran Furhmann, aquatic technology development scientist at SePRO Corp. discusses the delicate balance between leveraging phosphorus use in agriculture for optimal benefits while also prioritizing the protection of water systems. 

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Jacob Jones in a lab

Phosphorus Sustainability

April 18, 2024
17 minutes

Phosphorus plays a critical role in agriculture and the environment. Jacob Jones, director of the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability Center and an NC State materials science and engineering professor, discusses the significance of phosphorus for life processes, challenges associated with its overuse and more.

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Grounded Growth: Soil Health and Sustainable Agriculture

April 11, 2024
18 minutes

Yara’s Senior Vice President of Global Innovation, Rejane Souza, shares insights on the world of soil health and sustainable agriculture.

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Luke Gatiboni in a crop field

Unearthing Soil Secrets with Extension Specialist Luke Gatiboni

March 13, 2024
15 minutes

NC State University soil fertility expert Luke Gatiboni’s research focuses on uncovering the elusive balance of soil nutrients critical for boosting yields.

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Kathleen Polkoff in N.C. PSI lab

Women in Science: Kathryn Polkoff

March 27, 2024
15 minutes

Entrepreneur Kathryn Polkoff shares the remarkable journey of developing a pioneering product designed to combat climate change and enhance bovine health simultaneously.

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seven women standing in a field

FA Bio Founders on Solutions in Ag and the Workplace

February 13, 2024
22 minutes

Founded by a team of visionary women, FA Bio is dedicated to identifying sustainable agriculture solutions. Learn about the experiences that led these women to pioneer new technologies and attract top talent. 

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christmas trees

Cultivating Holiday Magic from Seed to Tree with Barr Evergreens

December 18, 2024
12 minutes

Rusty Barr from Barr Evergreens talks about advances in technology that have improved Christmas tree seedling production and helped unlock secrets to accelerating growth. Learn how his family business is crafting introducing new science to the old orchard.

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Justin Whitehill stands beside a Christmas tree

Tree Tech Talk with NC State Researcher Justin Whitehill

December 11, 2023
20 minutes

Justin Whitehill explains how his lab is helping create a more resilient and desirable Christmas tree. He shares insights on combating root rot, thwarting insect pests, and outsmarting browsing deer. With nearly four decades of tree breeding and genetic improvement research to build on, Dr. Whitehill and his team collaborate with growers to enhance evergreens.

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chickens

Optimizing Animal Microbiomes with Folium Science

October 18, 2023
14 minutes

Adrian Percy is joined by Ed Fuchs, CEO of Folium Science, to talk about the barriers and needs of the livestock industry. Folium uses a CRISPR-Cas technology to target and eliminate or reduce harmful microbes and bacteria while preserving the beneficial ones. The technology is transferrable to plants so we may grow healthier, more resilient crops.

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Sweetpotatoes

Part 2: Sensors Used at Nash Produce Could Increase Profitability for Sweetpotato Growers

November 22, 2023
15 minutes
 
Thomas Joyner, president of Nash Produce, shares how using Sweet-APPS technology boosts profitability and yields. Joyner says that sharing timely information with growers about their recent harvests is a win-win for all.

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Mike Kudenov in laboratory

Part 1: Using Sensors in Agriculture with NC State Researcher Dr. Kudenov

November 1, 2023
15 minutes

NC State researcher and professor Mike Kudenov delves into the intersection of engineering, agriculture and relationships. As an engineer, he looks at agriculture with a different perspective, modifying tools like sensors for use on the farm.

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Sid Thakur in his lab

Foodborne Pathogens with Sid Thakur

October 4, 2023
18 minutes

Adrian Percy speaks with Sid Thakur, a Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Executive Director of Global One Health Academy at NC State about foodborne pathogens and the many technologies that have emerged to help identify and track them.

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red apples on a tree

Monitoring Orchard Pests with Trapview

September 20, 2023
18 minutes

Matej Stefancic, CEO of Trapview, engaged a multidisciplinary team of agronomists, IT experts and data scientists to develop a unique pest management tool. New solutions for pest monitoring and forecasting allow growers to make real-time decisions. Trials done on apple orchards in the U.S. have already proven beneficial.

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tom kon, apple researcher, standing in an apple orchard

Apple Tech with Tom Kon

September 6, 2023
18 minutes

We kick off a new season with apple expert Tom Kon from NC State’s Department of Horticultural Science. During peak harvest season, Dr. Kon reflects on the different variables affecting production, and the new technologies being utilized in orchards to maximize yields. His unique connections with the orchards in the Southeast allow nearly half of his research to be done directly on working farms. 

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Revolutionizing Row Crops with ZeaKal

May 31, 2023
19 minutes

Host Adrian Percy is joined by Han Chen, CEO and co-founder of ZeaKal. They discuss the challenges facing the volume-first row crop industry as well as opportunities to improve its nutrition and sustainability. ZeaKal is using its photosynthesis-enhancing crop technology to reharmonize the supply chain by building customized solutions, half a million acres at a time.

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phil taylor

Open Innovation with Bayer’s Phil Taylor

May 17, 2023
16 minutes

Adrian Percy is joined by Phil Taylor, Director of Innovation and Outreach for Bayer Crop Science, to talk about open innovation. Bayer recognizes it cannot achieve its goals without open innovation with partners of all types and scale. Taylor presents Bayer’s model for open innovation and explores how different models can be applied across industries and disciplines.

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ricardo hernandez and student

Controlled Environment Agriculture with Ricardo Hernandez

May 3, 2023
19 minutes

Ricardo Hernandez, Director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Coalition at NC State, joins host Adrian Percy to discuss CEA, present its challenges and highlight its possibilities. Hernandez details the varied spectrum of CEA, from greenhouse tomatoes to vertical farming, as well as its place in the food supply chain.

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Charles Hall

Making & Marketing a Better Soybean with Charles Hall

April 12, 2023
15 minutes

Adrian Percy is joined by Charles Hall, Executive Director of the NC Soybean Producers Association, to discuss marketing soybeans to the animal industry and where AI and drones fit into the commodity group’s goals.

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rachel vann

Making Extension Connections with Rachel Vann

March 29, 2023
22 minutes

Rachel Vann, a soybean Extension specialist and N.C. PSI platform director, demystifies North Carolina’s extension program and discusses its critical role in bringing technology to soybean growers across the country.

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weeds

Understanding Weed Biology with Katie Jennings

March 8, 2023
13 minutes

Adrian Percy sits down with NC State professor and Extension specialist, Katie Jennings to discuss the biology behind why certain weeds give farmers such a hard time and what her research program is doing to help. Jennings takes us through the limitations and options, from traditional methods like hand-weeding and herbicides to nascent technologies like electrocution, bioherbicides, and robots.

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A Look at Alternative Crops with David Suchoff

February 22, 2023
18 minutes

NC State Extension Specialist David Suchoff gives us a glimpse into the future of alternative crops. From hemp and sesame to sunflowers and flax, his research takes market demand and farmer concerns into consideration as he investigates crops that can help farmers reduce economic volatility, adapt to climate change, and respond to shifts in consumer demand.

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Supporting Crops of the Future with FFAR

February 8, 2023
20 minutes

Jeffrey Rosichan shares how FFAR identifies and supports crops of the future. Discover how uncommon research projects gain steam. Growers in the U.S. are benefitting from FFAR’s global connections as research projects from around the world directly impact their farms.

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Combatting Weed Resistance with Harpe Bio

January 25, 2023
18 minutes

Entrepreneur Chad Brommer, CTO of Harpe Bio, dabbled with new formulations in his kitchen blender before collaborating with experts to create a new herbicide. The new mode of action in their biologically based herbicide is quickly proving to be effective worldwide.

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weed management

Electrocuting Weeds with Crop.Zone

January 11, 2023
13 minutes

Dirk Vandenhirtz, CEO of Crop.Zone, talks about electrocuting weeds. Growers in several countries are seeing the benefits of this new technology on their fields and in their pockets. Herbicide resistance is no longer an issue with this novel approach to weed management.

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pillonators

Innovative Beehive Monitoring Technology with Apis Protect

November 11, 2021
18 minutes

CEO Fiona Edwards Murphy speaks about Apis Protect. This Ireland-headquartered company uses a combination of IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies to remotely extract and interpret data from beehives while keeping that data safe.

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grain monitoring

Post-Harvest Grain Monitoring and Transportation Monitoring with TeleSense

October 22, 2021
17 minutes

Naeem Zafar, Co-Founder, President & Chief Executive Offer of TeleSense talks about an integral part of food production – the step after harvest and before shelving. TeleSense provides remote solutions for grain storage and transportation monitoring. 

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financial investment in food start-ups

Investing in Innovative Ag and Food Tech Start-Ups with Radicle Growth

September 15, 2021
22 minutes

Ever wonder how new technology gets funded? Kirk Haney, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Radicle Growth shares how they carefully select innovative ag and food tech start-ups for investment, ensuring that powerful, disruptive technologies reach their full potential.

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malaria eradication

Toward Eradicating Malaria: Repurposing Agtech for Public Health with the IVCC

July 20, 2021
21 minutes

Dr. Nick Hamon, CEO at Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) shares how his company repurposes chemistry that may have traditionally been used in agriculture and applies it to the public health sector, working toward the total eradication of Malaria.

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livestock

Reimagining Livestock AgriTech with Cainthus

May 21, 2021
13 minutes

Aidan Connolly, Chief Executive Officer at Cainthus and President of AgriTech Capital, gives his perspective on livestock agtech importance and how seemingly simple tech can be revolutionary.

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sustainable agriculture

Rethinking the Drivers of Innovation in AgTech with Finistere

May 7, 2021
19 minutes

Ingrid Fung, Investment Director at Finistere Ventures, talks diversity in agriculture, consumer-driven Ag Tech, pharmaceutical inspiration and what she is most excited about moving forward with sustainable ag.

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DNA gene editing

Keep Calm and CRISPR On with Rodolphe Barrangou

April 2, 2021
22 minutes

Rodolphe Barrangou, a Distinguished Professor at NC State, talks about the advancements and importance of CRISPR and where the future of this technology may lead. This episode is filled with great examples of what CRISPR is and its capabilities.

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Plant_Sciences_Building_Exterior_Drone_Shoot_for_NC_State_20220421_by_Justin_Kase_Conder_0815

The Plant Sciences Initiative at NC State

February 10, 2021
20 minutes

Dean Richard Linton, of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State, talks about the Plant Sciences Initiative and plans for future and current partnerships along with unique approaches to moving forward.

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social media apps

Communicating Agriculture with Bayer Crop Science

January 28, 2021
18 minutes

Beth Roden, Global Head of Communications at Bayer Crop Science, talks about the challenges and opportunities of communicating about agriculture and new technologies.

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plant chemistry

Small Molecule Chemistry and Biotechnology with Oerth Bio

November 8, 2020
23 minutes

John Dombrosky of Oerth Bio, an AgTech start-up in the RTP, talks about leveraging their PROTAC® protein degraders that harness the plant’s own protein disposal system to degrade and remove unwanted proteins.

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pollinators

Pollinator Health and Regulatory Science with CERSA

November 2, 2020
20 minutes

Danesha Seth Carley, Director of CERSA, talks with Adrian Percy about the goals for the future of regulatory science and her experience in pollinator health.

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UV lights

Photobiology with Biolumic

November 2, 2020
22 minutes

Adrian Percy talks with Jason Wargent, Chief Science Officer at Biolumic about photobiology and UV treatments for seeds and seedlings.

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agtech

PrecisionHawk talks Drones in Agriculture

November 2, 2020
24 minutes

Bobby Vick, former Director of Agriculture of PrecisionHawk based in Raleigh, NC, talks with Adrian Percy about drones and how agriculture can utilize them.

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plant in hands and dirt

Protein-Based Biocontrol with Biotalys

September 2, 2020
23 minutes

Chief Executive Officer of Biotalys, Patrice Sellès, talks with Adrian about protein-based biocontrol.

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plant biochemistry

Biochemistry and BHAGs with Terramera

September 2, 2020
22 minutes

CEO of Terramera, Karn Manhas, talks with Adrian Percy about BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) and using biochemistry to reduce synthetic chemistry loads.

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ag data sensors

DNA Sequencing and Crop Genomes with Hi Fidelity Genetics

September 2, 2020
24 minutes

Spencer Maughan of Hi Fidelity Genetics talks with Adrian about how they use precision data science, advanced sensors and large-scale DNA sequencing to build crop genomes.

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Adrian Percy

About the Host

Adrian Percy, Executive Director N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

With more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural sector, Adrian Percy is an advocate of the need for and benefits of modern agriculture. He is also a strong proponent of developing and adopting new agricultural and food technologies that support global food security while conserving the environment and supporting rural community development.

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Faculty

CERSA Workshops Help Inform Regulatory Reform

With companies developing more crop-protecting treatments using techniques such as CRISPR genome editing, the time is right for reform of federal policies that govern these products, says the director of… 

Collaborators

Khara Grieger named co-Director of Outreach and Advocacy for the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein

n her role with the Bezos Center for Sustainable Proteins, Grieger will be working to better understand stakeholder and consumer perceptions and needs as they relate to alternative proteins and bringing this information back to the research teams. 

Faculty

Grieger awarded STEPS Center Broadening Participation Medal

Khara Grieger, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Ecology at NC State, has been awarded the STEPS Center Broadening Participation Medal which recognizes efforts to foster diversity and inclusion in the Center.