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two men standing in a cotton field look at a laptop while a drone flys behind them

On the Ground and In the Air

NC State University researchers are using drones, ground robots and AI to address key challenges for cotton growers and other farmers. 
Rashid Imoro smiles and gestures.

From the Ground Up

Originally from Ghana, Rashid Imoro saw firsthand the impact soil quality has on crop yield and productivity. Coming to NC State as a doctoral student with Alex Woodley has helped him better understand how different amendments can improve soil quality. 
Hemp plan against a bright blue, sun-lit sky

Fiber Hemp’s Promise: From Dirt to Shirt

N.C. PSI Platform Director for Extension Outreach and Engagement David Suchoff highlights the real economic promise that fiber hemp poses for North Carolina’s farmers and textile industry. 
Insights on AI in agriculture: a drone flies toward a cotton field to gather images as researchers work nearby

Harnessing AI to Feed the Future

How public research, tech companies and land-grant universities are pairing big data with biological science to deliver reliable decision support to farmers. 
Student pours seeds into a mechanical device

Youth Programs Ignite Student’s Passion for Plant Biology and Global Food Security

Summer outreach programs and a youth institute inspired a high schooler to explore plant biology and take part in an international agricultural research internship, before enrolling at NC State, where he’s helping address agricultural challenges and world hunger. 
on the left, colorful swirly lines of pink, yellow, blue, purple, green, orange and grey. On the right a chart of letters and numbers and geometric shapes

New Class of Cellular Proteins Offers Untapped Potential

Thomas Makris, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, wants to unlock the inner biochemical workings of a new class of cellular proteins that hold the potential for developing new medicines, biofuels and other valuable products. 
Man in a farm field, speaking into a microphone and gesturing toward a hemp plant

Turning to Fiber Hemp to Revitalize Agriculture and Textiles

Fiber hemp is a promising industry for North Carolina, but collaboration will be key to overcoming system challenges that could stand in the way. The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative’s David Suchoff and others at NC State are working to build those partnerships. 
Workers in a field harvest sweet potatoes.

Policy and Automation Are Key Solutions to Ag Labor Shortages

A shortage of labor is often cited as the No. 1 agricultural challenge in North Carolina and the United States today. NC State labor specialist Alejandro Gutierrez-Li says the short-term solution is immigration policy, while the long-term solution is automation. 
Plant Sciences Building operations manager Geoff Bock next to the "Moon Tree."

A Moon Tree Planted in Honor of a Moon Visitor

One of NC State’s newest trees, a 6-foot-tall loblolly pine on Centennial Campus, is the descendant of an original 1971 Moon Tree, whose seed flew on Apollo 14. It was planted in honor of NASA astronaut and three-time graduate Christina Koch. 
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