Stories From 2019
Ambassador Visit Highlights Partnerships Near and Far
As the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative continues to take shape, partnerships between VIB, a Belgian life sciences institute, and NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are growing.
Salty Algae Leads to Sweet Success
NC State University professor Heike Sederoff started studying saltwater algae more than a decade ago as part of a project to use algae to make biofuel. This research led to a recent paper in the journal Nature and a biofuels patent application.
Extraordinary Leadership
CALS alumnus Larry Wooten wraps up his career at the North Carolina Farm Bureau’s helm but promises he’ll continue to be involved in advocacy.
‘Conductor’ Gene Found in Plant Root Stem Cell ‘Orchestra’
NC State researchers identify the maestro behind stem cell division in plant roots.
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.
Fred Gould: My Journey to Interdisciplinary Research
Fred Gould shares his journey from graduate school to interdisciplinary research on genetically modified pests and beyond, as well as the challenges he overcame along the way.
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.
$10M grant to NC State, USDA-ARS to advance cover crops, transform agriculture
Chris Reberg-Horton, an assistant professor in Crop and Soil Science, will co-lead a five-year, $10 million grant to improve the sustainability and profitability of agriculture by advancing the study and use of cover crops such as rye, clover and radishes.
New Genetic Engineering Toolset Produces Better-Modified Plants Faster, Easier
NC State profs Anna Stepanova and Jose Alonso share a new set of genetic engineering tools that makes recombineering large plant genes faster and easier in a paper published in the journal Plant Cell. The toolset will improve the precision and reliability of fundamental plant science, which forms the foundation for innovations in pest resistance, yield increases and growing season extensions.