{"id":492,"date":"2019-07-24T15:02:13","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T15:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi-new\/?page_id=492"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:01:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T22:01:56","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Solutions Start Here<\/h2>\n\n\n<aside class=\"ncst-aside-container\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-aside-contents\">\n    <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-spotlight-box has-reynolds-400-background-color with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/driving-innovation-in-n-c-agriculture\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/driving-innovation-in-n-c-agriculture\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-77804\" \n            alt=\"six-legged spider robot\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/Spider-robot-small.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/Spider-robot-small.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/Spider-robot-small-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/Spider-robot-small-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/Spider-robot-small-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Driving Innovation<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Learn more about the impactful research taking place in seven strategic areas identified by N.C. agricultural leaders: early detection of pests and pathogens, automation for labor efficiency, production for human and animal health, plant breeding for machine handling and consumer acceptance, monetizing sustainability, soil additives to meet plant needs and targeted pest and pathogen <span class=nowrap>treatment.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as plants are integral to a wide breadth of our daily lives, from agriculture and climate change to energy and human health, so too must the plant sciences be dynamic and interdisciplinary in order to solve the grand challenges of our time. The plant sciences require the collaborative effort of great minds across all disciplines, approaching applied research through bold curiosity, academic barrier-breaking, multi-sector partnerships and technological innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">What does this innovation look like?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increasing yields<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating new varieties <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extending growing seasons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enhancing agricultural and environmental sustainability <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> Producing new and improved technology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">What is the goal?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Preparing farms to keep pace with a fast-moving future to help ensure a healthier, well-fed world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 Research Platforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The N.C. PSI has five strategic platforms that bridge the gaps between research, education and extension to provide cross-disciplinary support and amplify the impact of plant sciences research toward achieving common goals. Three platforms are research-focused: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-ncst-link-list ncst-link-list layout-one-column\"><div class=\"link-list__container\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/plant-improvement\/\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/plant-improvement\/\"><span class=\"text\">Plant Improvement<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/data-driven-plant-science\/\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/data-driven-plant-science\/\"><span class=\"text\">Data-driven Plant Sciences<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-ncst-bold-link ncst-component__bold-link-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/resilient-agricultural-systems\/\" class=\"ncst-component__bold-link text-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-ua-cat=\"Bold Link Block\" data-ua-action=\"Bold Link Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/resilient-agricultural-systems\/\"><span class=\"text\">Resilient Agricultural Systems<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-featured-content ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-two-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n               <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__header\">\n                      <h2 class=\"ncst-labeled-section__heading\">behind our research<\/h2>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-featured-content\"><a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-programs\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-programs\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-5465\" \n            alt=\"Anna Stepanova and a researcher in a growth chamber\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/07\/tomato_research-6680.jpeg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/07\/tomato_research-6680.jpeg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/07\/tomato_research-6680-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/07\/tomato_research-6680-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/07\/tomato_research-6680-768x432.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Research Programs<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Interdisciplinary research teams address plant improvement, data-driven plant science and resilient agricultural systems.<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\">Read <span class=nowrap>more&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-facilities\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-facilities\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-6986\" \n            alt=\"Two people work with plants in a rooftop greenhouse\\\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-scaled.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/11\/PSB-Greenhouse-3-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Research Facilities<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Top-notch research facilities provide a direct competitive advantage for our innovative research.<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\">Enabling next-generation <span class=nowrap>science&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-expertise\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/research\/research-expertise\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-5129\" \n            alt=\"Jack Wang and Rodolphe Barrangou in Greenhouse\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/06\/TreeCo-Hero-scaled-1-scaled-e1655988777556.webp\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Research Expertise<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Our faculty have diverse and complimentary research expertise to tackle agriculture&#8217;s grand challenges. <\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=nowrap>Explore&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/commercialization\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/commercialization\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-79847\" \n            alt=\"Two people standing in a corn field\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2025\/09\/pirzada_tahira_BK11359-1-1.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2025\/09\/pirzada_tahira_BK11359-1-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2025\/09\/pirzada_tahira_BK11359-1-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2025\/09\/pirzada_tahira_BK11359-1-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2025\/09\/pirzada_tahira_BK11359-1-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Commercialization<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">We help entrepreneurs get great ideas to market.<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\">Where startups get their <span class=nowrap>start&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-mini-story ncst-askew-media-text has-green-400-background-color\"><div class=\"ncst-askew-media-text__container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-text-column\"><h2 class=\"ncst-text-column__heading\">AI at the N.C. PSI<\/h2><p class=\"ncst-text-column__teaser\">The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative is charting a course for the future of agriculture, leveraging artificial intelligence with a three-pronged approach: cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, extension and workforce development.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-button is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/ai-at-the-n-c-psi\/\" class=\"btn ncst-block__button-link\" data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\" data-ua-cat=\"Button Block\" data-ua-action=\"Button Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/ai-at-the-n-c-psi\/\"><span class=\"text\">Explore Our Approach<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\">\n<svg class=\"wp-block-ncst-wolficon wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-media\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/02\/BK14357-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Man with robotiic device in a field of plans\" class=\"wp-image-80940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/02\/BK14357-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/02\/BK14357-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/02\/BK14357-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/02\/BK14357.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Weilong He, a graduate student in agricultural engineering, works with robots to help automate the assessment of healthy plant leaves in the field.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<script>\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1.\"),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"action\",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"filter\",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook(\"action\",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook(\"filter\",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook(\"action\",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook(\"filter\",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+\"_\"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){\"function\"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),\"action\"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),\"filter\"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}});\n<\/script>\n\n                <div class='gf_browser_gecko gform_wrapper gravity-theme gform-theme--no-framework' data-form-theme='gravity-theme' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_7' ><div id='gf_7' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'><\/div>\n                        <div class='gform_heading'>\n                            <h2 class=\"gform_title\">Subscribe to the N.C. PSI Monthly Newsletter<\/h2>\n                            <p class='gform_description'>Get the latest news from the N.C. 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object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Brown-field-drone-in-flight-with-pilot-DJI_0464.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Brown-field-drone-in-flight-with-pilot-DJI_0464-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Brown-field-drone-in-flight-with-pilot-DJI_0464-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Brown-field-drone-in-flight-with-pilot-DJI_0464-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Harvesting Data for Agriculture<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">New tech for better drone-based data collection and analysis is helping turn agricultural research stations into farms of the future, and an N.C. PSI team is intent on delivering even more solutions to help farmers put data to <span class=nowrap>work.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2026\/06\/scientists-identify-mystery-beetle-attacking-blueberry-farms-across-north-carolina\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2026\/06\/scientists-identify-mystery-beetle-attacking-blueberry-farms-across-north-carolina\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1200\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-82603\" \n            alt=\"Adult beetle with long antennae.\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Prionus-imbricornis-M-1-scaled-e1780348040660.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Prionus-imbricornis-M-1-scaled-e1780348040660.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Prionus-imbricornis-M-1-scaled-e1780348040660-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Prionus-imbricornis-M-1-scaled-e1780348040660-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/06\/Prionus-imbricornis-M-1-scaled-e1780348040660-768x614.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Mystery Beetle Unmasked<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">NC&#160;State researchers have identified a wood-boring beetle that could threaten the state&#8217;s blueberry industry. With no insecticides labeled for use against this pest in blueberries, Lorena Lopez, an entomologist and N.C. PSI affiliate, has started trials to come up with <span class=nowrap>solutions.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/evolution-not-revolution\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/evolution-not-revolution\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-77758\" \n            alt=\"Adrian Percy standing akimbo in front of the Plant Sciences Building\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/BK19580-web.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/BK19580-web.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/BK19580-web-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/BK19580-web-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2024\/12\/BK19580-web-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">\u2018Evolution, Not Revolution\u2019<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Executive Director Adrian Percy describes what\u2019s next for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative under a new strategic <span class=nowrap>plan.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/breeding-possibilities-for-better-crops\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/news\/breeding-possibilities-for-better-crops\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-82438\" \n            alt=\"Caitlin Kestell standing beside a scientific poster\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Kestell_6.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Kestell_6.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Kestell_6-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Kestell_6-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Kestell_6-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Breeding Possibilities for Better Crops<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">From a young age, Caitlin Kestell learned to work hard, help other people and never quit. Now a crop science graduate student and N.C. PSI award-winner, she&#8217;s putting a can-do attitude to work in research to benefit farmers and outreach efforts that inspire <span class=nowrap>students.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/green-g-conference-explores-intersections-between-biology-and-engineering\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/green-g-conference-explores-intersections-between-biology-and-engineering\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-82425\" \n            alt=\"Students gather in a poster-filled hallway to to discuss research\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1.jpg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/Poster-Sessions-Slobada-Willis-2-scaled-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Conference Explores Intersection of Biology and Engineering<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">With N.C. PSI faculty playing key roles, the recent Green-G Conference brought together experts in disciplines ranging from electrical engineering to ecology to explore how cutting-edge biosensing, data science, imaging, signal processing and other technology can allow us to better observe natural processes and come up with practical concepts for telecommunications and data <span class=nowrap>management.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card \"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/from-unexpected-beginnings-to-the-future-of-digital-agriculture\/\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/news\/from-unexpected-beginnings-to-the-future-of-digital-agriculture\/\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-82382\" \n            alt=\"Jing Zhang with smartphone in a blueberry field\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/jing-4-cropped-copy.jpeg\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/jing-4-cropped-copy.jpeg 1500w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/jing-4-cropped-copy-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/jing-4-cropped-copy-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/05\/jing-4-cropped-copy-768x432.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">From Unexpected Beginnings to the Future of Digital Ag<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">N.C. PSI faculty affiliate Jing Zhang breaks new ground using high-tech tools to gather and analyze data better and faster for improved plant breeding and crop <span class=nowrap>production.&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Solutions Start Here Just as plants are integral to a wide breadth of our daily lives, from agriculture and climate change to energy and human health, so too must the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2214,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/split-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"gray_800\",\"imageID\":509,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2019\/07\/plant-sciences-phytotron-research.jpg\",\"pageIntro\":\"Our work is challenge-focused and impact-driven.\",\"imageAlt\":\"Student checks on research in phytotron\",\"mirrorLayout\":true}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-492","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=492"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81884,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/492\/revisions\/81884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}