{"id":80958,"date":"2026-02-26T12:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T17:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/?page_id=80958"},"modified":"2026-04-14T17:30:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T21:30:51","slug":"ai-at-the-n-c-psi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/ai-at-the-n-c-psi\/","title":{"rendered":"AI at the N.C. PSI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our time in agriculture. If a scientist or farmer can observe it in the field, AI can be trained to replicate and scale that knowledge. Just as genomics reshaped plant breeding, digital agriculture and AI are redefining how farming is done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the N.C. PSI, interdisciplinary teams are leading the way, breaking ground with AI-enabled sensors, robotics and data-driven decision tools, moving them from the lab to the field in ways that meet farmers\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Research That Redefines How Farming Is Done<\/h2>

The N.C. PSI drives innovation by engaging interdisciplinary teams for real-world impact for plant improvement, data-driven plant sciences and resilient agricultural systems.<\/p>\n

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Chris Reberg-Horton demonstrates the Benchbot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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AI-IN-Ag research highlights: Spring 2026<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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SAS, NC State and ECU deploying sensors and IoT analytics to help farmers<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Having even a small amount of additional time to prepare for flooding or a better understanding of the extent of saltwater intrusion and salinity increases, farmers can save significant money.

A team from NC State, its N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, the N.C. Ag Analytics Platform, N.C. Cooperative Extension and East Carolina University are collaborating with data and AI leader SAS to create a system of affordable, field-ready sensors to help farmers identify areas most likely to flood; safeguard crops, equipment and livestock; manage drainage; and mitigate risks from changing soil salinity.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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AI in Ag Conference Explores Farming’s Future<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Over 460 academics, students, researchers, extension professionals and industry leaders from across the country gathered at NC State March 31-April 2 to explore how AI is reshaping the future of agriculture.

Daniela Jones, the N.C. PSI’s education and workforce development platform director, chaired the event, and numerous researchers and students with ties to the initiative presented. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Using AI and Advanced Sensors To Transform Feed Production<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Healthy, affordable feed is key to the vitality of North Carolina\u2019s $14 billion livestock and poultry industry.

With seed funding from the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative,\u00a0an interdisciplinary team at NC State is studying ways to use low-cost, real-time sensors paired with artificial intelligence to make feed milling more precise.

The ultimate goal: healthier, productive animals to ensure a nutritious supply of protein for a growing world population.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Pixels to Power Farming’s Future<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Images, and lots of them, are the key to computer vision, a form of AI that\u2019s driven advancements in facial recognition, medical imaging, self-driving cars and more. But the lack of publicly available, high-quality plant images has been a barrier to advancing computer vision in agriculture.

A team of NC State researchers and engineers have developed a new tool could be a game-changer for AI in agriculture, enabling new tools and technologies that make farming more precise and profitable.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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REFRAME: A Residue Revolution<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Not everything that\u2019s grown on a farm makes it to market because it just won\u2019t sell: Misshapen sweetpotatoes and their green tops are good examples. At NC State, researchers have embarked on a four-year project to help create new business opportunities from such agricultural leftovers.

They\u2019re developing an AI-enabled, open-source platform to help farmers, processing plants, researchers and policymakers analyze the potential for creating new income sources from such biomass.
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Sweet Success From Sweet-APPS<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

North Carolina is the undisputed leader in U.S. sweetpotato production, generating over $350 million in annual economic impact and producing roughly 60% of the nation\u2019s supply.<\/strong> NC State\u2019s <\/strong>Sweet-APPS project is designed to ensure the industry stays strong.

Sweet-APPS uses advanced imaging and machine learning to evaluate every sweetpotato by size, shape and surface quality, linking that information back to the field it came from. The data are fed to tools that allow for smarter grading, less waste and a higher-value crop.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Superhero Robots-in-Training<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Grocery shoppers might not think about it, but the bulk of the fresh produce we buy in the supermarket is still tended and picked by hand, and finding labor is one of the toughest challenges faced by U.S. farmers.

With support from the N.C. PSI Makerspace, NC State researchers and students are developing AI-driven robots to automate some of the more arduous and repetitive vegetable production tasks. And they\u2019re naming some of those tools after superheroes.

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Toward Faster Nematode Results<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

To speed test results that farmers need to prevent or reduce losses from nematodes, a team of NC State faculty members are training computers to identify 25 of most pesky types in the Southeast and accurately count them.

Right now, testing is tedious and time-consuming process, meaning weeks can pass before farmers get results. AI won\u2019t eliminate the need for trained diagnosticians, but it could make their work more efficient, allowing farmers to take action when it matters most.
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Taking a Bite Out of Labor Crunch in Apple Production<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

With seed funding from the N.C. PSI, an NC State research team is exploring ways to pair AI with portable, non-invasive radio frequency imaging, near-infrared and visible spectroscopy to help apple growers gather more information about their crops to make labor-saving decisions around three key labor-intensive tasks: pruning when trees are dormant, removing excess flowers and fruits as the trees grow and harvesting fruit. The early-stage work could have implications for other valuable specialty crops.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Ensuring Field-Ready Results<\/strong> That Matter<\/h2>

To position farmers at the forefront of innovation, the N.C. PSI engages a network of Extension agents from across the state to drive future research and beta test transformational technologies on farms. Current agent cohorts are enhancing AI-related research ranging from in-field phosphorus testing to detection of emerging plant diseases. <\/p>\n

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Connecting Research to Farmer Needs<\/span>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Developing AI-Ready Graduates<\/strong><\/h2>

To create lasting, impactful solutions through AI, our activities go beyond research. To provide NC State students with the chance to learn more about AI\u2019s applications in agriculture and gain related experience, we offer an array of AI-related programs, events and activities.<\/p>\n

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A New Breed of Problem-Solvers<\/span>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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2023 N.C. PSI Hackathon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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ways we help students get ai-ready<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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SAPLINGS: \u2018A Meaningful Impact\u2019<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

As part of a five-year, $18.1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded partnership called SAPLINGS, we are collaborating with North Carolina A&T State University, to grow interest among university students in food, agricultural, natural resources and human sciences.

At NC\u00a0State, undergraduates get the chance to learn about AI and data science and apply that knowledge for precision agriculture.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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GRAD-AID for Ag: Digging Into AI<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

With the goal of preparing a future-proof workforce at the intersection of plant science and artificial intelligence, NC\u00a0State\u2019s GRAD-AID for Ag program equips students with the ability to integrate lab-derived datasets with field data, leveraging the statistical analyses, machine learning, artificial neural networks, and other AI approaches. The goal: to accelerate translation of basic plant science research to the field.
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N.C. PSI Hackathon: Ideation, Collaboration and Impactful Solutions<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Our annual Hackathon gives undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars the chance to demonstrate their skills in solving ag tech challenges.

The three-day event provides gives them valuable experience using data analytics, machine learning, hardware fabrication and more.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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USDA-ARS Internships: Putting Data Science Skills to Work <\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

In a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s AI Center of Excellence and SCINet, NC State graduate students are paired with USDA scientist mentors to engage in high-impact agricultural research.

These immersive, AI-intensive experiences allow students to gain professional skills, build their personal networks and increase their understanding of possible career paths.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our time in agriculture. If a scientist or farmer can observe it in the field, AI can be trained to replicate and scale…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"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\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"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.\",\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"boxPosition\":\"right\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0,\"y\":0.25},\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2026\/03\/NCSU_PSI_Hackathon-4566.jpg\",\"imageID\":81329,\"imageAlt\":\"Student tests a prototype tomato harvester on a wooden ramp with small pots containing tomato plants\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-80958","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80958","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\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80958"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81747,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80958\/revisions\/81747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}