{"id":82660,"date":"2026-06-25T19:45:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T23:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/?page_id=82660"},"modified":"2026-06-25T19:45:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T23:45:28","slug":"newsroom","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/psi\/newsroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsroom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

For journalists, the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative<\/a> is a gateway to the future of agriculture. Our interdisciplinary hub is ready to support your impactful stories, offering deep expertise in transformative fields like AI-enabled agriculture and genome editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The N.C. PSI is a leading hub for resilient agriculture, plant improvement and interdisciplinary data-driven sciences. In our quest to create a healthier, resilient and more prosperous future, we bring together over 100 faculty affiliates from nine North Carolina State University<\/a> colleges engaged in problem-solving team science that advances agriculture and protects the environment. Our work is supported and guided by NC State’s Office of Research and Innovation and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your News and Information Resource<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We can help you connect to world-class experts, access high-resolution images and receive the latest updates on groundbreaking research related to agriculture. We are also your collaborative resource for timely information on topics hat are shaping our global food system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DS<\/div>\n \"Dee\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n Dee Shore \n <\/a>\n \n \n

Communications Lead<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n 919-604-3164<\/a>\n \n deeshore@ncsu.edu<\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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LATEST headlines<\/h2>\n See more news<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Harvesting Data for Agriculture<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

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 work. \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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\u2018Evolution, Not Revolution\u2019<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Executive Director Adrian Percy describes what\u2019s next for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative under a new strategic plan. \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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From Unexpected Beginnings to the Future of Digital Ag<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

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 production. \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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Interns Tackle Ag Challenges With the N.C. PSI Makerspace<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

NC State\u2019s think-and-do spirit thrives in the N.C. PSI Makerspace, where three next-generation engineers and computer scientists have complemented their coursework with hands-on experience shaping the future of farming. \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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SAS, NC State and ECU Deploying Sensors and IoT Analytics to Help Farmers<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

N.C. Cooperative Extension agent Andrea Gibbs, the N.C. Ag Analytics Platform and others at NC State are part of effort to create affordable, field-ready sensor systems that give growers timely, data-driven insights. Check out the SAS news release. \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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AI in Agriculture Conference Explores the Future of Farming<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Over 460 academics, students, researchers, extension professionals and industry leaders from across the country took part in the 2026 AI in Agriculture Conference at NC State, chaired by the N.C. PSI’s Daniela Jones. \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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AI at the N.C. PSI <\/h2>

The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative is charting a course for the future of agriculture, leveraging artificial intelligence with a three-pronged approach: leading-edge interdisciplinary research, extension and workforce development.<\/p>\n

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Letitia Santos, a graduate student in biological and agricultural engineering and at 2024 FFAR Fellow, uses remotely sensed data and machine learning techniques to measure, monitor and report weed and soil conditions. Photo by Becky Kirkland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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the latest from N.C. PSI Faculty affiliates<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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Scientists identify \u2018mystery beetle\u2019 attacking blueberry farms across North Carolina<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

North Carolina\u2019s blueberry farmers may have a beetle problem. A new study from North Carolina State University has identified destructive beetles inhabiting North Carolina blueberry fields as Prionus imbricornis, a species of longhorn beetle. Known for their long antennae, the wood-boring beetles are an emerging pest in NC blueberries. Female adults typically lay their eggs… \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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Lessons from Collard Greens: Celebrating Connections between Food & Place and Protecting the Invisible Helpers Below<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

You get home from school and see a large pot of leafy greens on the stove. The smell awakens a rumble in your stomach as you go find your mom… \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n\n

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Microbial partners may help plants respond to higher temperatures<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

New research suggests the microbiome near the surface of a plant\u2019s roots, known as the rhizosphere microbiome, may play a role in helping crops respond to heat stress. When studying adaptation in living things, scientists sometimes analyze the interplay between genetics and environment to influence measurable traits, a phenomenon known as Genotype by Environment interactions… \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Harvesting Genetic Solutions<\/h2>

Plant genome editing technology promises to revolutionize agriculture, and Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture, hosted by the N.C. PSI, is leading the way, accelerating the pace of gene editing research and empowering the agricultural industry to adapt quickly in the face of changing climates, invasive species, shrinking farmland and other threats.<\/p>\n

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Explore the GEC<\/span>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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As director of NC State\u2019s Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Kelliher focuses on genome editing in crops to create novel agronomic and disease resistance traits, new CRISPR tools, and novel crop reproductive system. Photo by Marc Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Facts About Our Impact<\/p>

The 2022 opening of the state-of-the-art Plant Sciences Building gave the N.C. PSI its formal start, providing common ground for the university, government and private industry to address ag\u2019s biggest challenges.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Bright Ideas Start Here<\/h2>

From 2022-23 to 2024-25, N.C. PSI faculty affiliates filed 111 invention disclosures and won 19 patents.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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$30 Million + <\/h2>

N.C. PSI faculty affiliates serve as principal investigators on grants awarded for new projects in FY2025.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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10 Ag Tech Startups<\/h2>

The N.C. PSI supports 10 startup companies in our Seed2Grow entrepreneurship program, Our first graduate, Hoofprint Biome, fledged in 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For high-resolution images, email Dee Shore (deeshore@ncsu.edu<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Leadership Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n