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Interdisciplinary Plant Science

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Gain access to the best minds working in interdisciplinary plant sciences to develop real-world solutions.

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Partner with us to feed, clothe, heal and fuel the world.

The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI), the global hub for plant science innovation, brings together the brightest minds in academia, government and industry to drive vital research and innovation that:

  • Increases crop yields
  • Creates new plant varieties
  • Extends growing seasons
  • Enhances sustainability
  • Develops world-class talent
  • Produces new and improved technologies

Our Partnerships in Action

A bunch of sweetpotatoes

Big Data for Better Sweetpotatoes

When it comes to growing sweetpotatoes, North Carolina is a superstar – growing more than the next three states combined.

To help improve farmer profits, an interdisciplinary team of NC State researchers are partnering with SAS and Intero Life Sciences to use artificial intelligence to image hundreds of thousands of sweetpotatoes to increase the percentage of USDA grade 1 sweetpotatoes grown.

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N.C. PSI, SAS to Harness the Power of Data

SAS was born at NC State, where the company’s first project was analyzing crop yield data. SAS is forging a new agricultural technology business unit to help growers and agribusiness leaders turn the vast amount of farm and agricultural data into insights that inform safe and secure food production.

“We’re at a critical point in human history where the threat of widespread hunger is more real than ever," said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. "We have the opportunity to help farmers be more productive through the power of AI and analytics and get more food from fields to tables around the world.”

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Three men at a table signing a document

Partner Profile: BASF Renews Its Partnership with NC State

Peter Eckes, president of BASF Bioscience Research, renews a five-year research agreement and partnership with NC State to tackle significant challenges and opportunities that will ultimately benefit our communities and society overall.

"We are looking for breakthroughs -- novel things that we can bring to our customers and the market," said Eckes. "This is vitally important for us, and expectations are high. But I think we want to keep the expectations high to create energy and enthusiasm with all the scientists that are working together from NC State and BASF."

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Tommy Carter and Amy Grunden compare drought-tolerant soybean plants

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.

"At the new Plant Sciences Building, ARS and NC State scientists will use new high-throughput electronics and machine-learning approaches to speed up genetic field testing," said Jacobs-Young. "Their aim is to deliver a new drought-tolerant soybean variety to producers and consumers using innovative state-of-the-art facilities, technologies and skills."

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Challenge focused. Impact driven.

Novozymes Head of North America Brian Brazeau

“With NC State, we have a partnership that delivers real outcomes for the world.”

— Brian Brazeau, Head of North America & VP Bioenergy, Novozymes North America

#2 in the Nation for Research Commercialization

We’re second among universities without a medical school in licensing or optioning research.

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N.C. PSI is the Go-to Partner for Agriculture Solutions

We break down academic and research barriers to cultivate, support and sustain science teams focused on:

Plant Improvement

  • Crop protection
  • Plant adaptation
  • Microbiomes

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Data-Driven Plant Science

  • Predictive modeling
  • Use of artificial intelligence
  • IoT and decision tools

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Resilient Agricultural Systems

  • Plant and food systems
  • Food security and human health
  • Responsible ag production methods

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N.C. PSI News More News

Oct 7, 2020

N.C. PSI Names New Platform Directors

The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative named four new platform directors and the interim director of operations. These leaders will guide the initiative’s research, Extension and education activities.

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Oct 12, 2020

Grant Continues Support of Crop DNA Replication Research

A new NSF grant will allow two Plant and Microbial Biology professors to continue their work of 17 years unraveling how plants control DNA replication and how this influences agronomic traits.

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Sep 23, 2020

NC State Team Finds Solution for Sweetpotato Problem

An NC State team led by Jonathan Schultheis has determined a new curing process that greatly reduces internal necrosis in Covington sweetpotatoes. This will save N.C. sweetpotato producers millions of dollars in crop loss.

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Improvement Through Innovation

Our mission is to improve the world through plant science innovation. Our vision is to be the world’s premier plant sciences enterprise accelerating discovery, talent development and applied solutions that solve agricultural challenges through interdisciplinary, team-based science.

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Let's Thrive Together

Learn how you can partner with our team to tackle the grand challenges facing agriculture.

Partner with N.C. PSI