North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative

Mariana Prieto Torres and Sina Jamalzedegan posing

Sep 10, 2024

Newest Trolinder Award winners named

Two North Carolina State University Ph.D. students pursuing research aimed at plant disease detection were recently named 2024-25 winners of the Norma L. Trolinder N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative Graduate Student…

Aug 23, 2024

Toward better plant disease prediction

Each year, farmers worldwide lose 20% to 40% of their crops to disease. To help farmers reduce these losses, North Carolina State University researchers are using knowledge gained over the…

Two men standing beside a large bench-shaped robot.

Jun 17, 2024

N.C. PSI advances AI for agriculture

At NC State University, the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative is leading efforts aimed at helping producers put artificial intelligence to work for increased yields, efficiency and sustainability. Two new tools will…

Woman holding an electronic sensor while three men look on.

May 14, 2024

Makerspace magic with Andrea Monteza

Where do you go when you need parts for a robot that can walk through cucumber vines without getting tripped up as it monitors the air for disease spores? A…

Students at a table demonstrating their seed size collection machine.

May 2, 2024

NC State students pair machine learning, robotics to improve ag research

Thanks in large part to a student-developed machine that can “see” and sort seeds by size, a new NC State University project could shed more light on how seed sizes influence…

a woman and a man stand in a field of green crops

Mar 18, 2024

NC State partners on NSF-funded “Ag Tech Corridor” project

A $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation is kickstarting an effort to create an agricultural technology corridor from central to eastern North Carolina, and NC State University plays a key role.

Eli Hornstein in science lab in front of a computer.

Feb 7, 2024

Starting strong

The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative’s Startup Program provides expertise and resources to help emerging companies bring problem-solving agricultural technologies and services to the marketplace.

Fireworks explode over the NC State belltower to close down Packapalooza 2022.

Aug 30, 2023

From ideas to solutions

Six projects secured support from the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund this year, and for the first time in the fund’s history, awardees will receive supplemental resources through local entrepreneur and investor Bill Spruill’s 2ndF Research Commercialization Fund.

Left to right, back row: Mike Boyette, Khara Grieger, Mike Kudenov, Craig Yencho. Seated: Daniela Jones, Cranos Williams. Photo by Marc Hall.

Nov 18, 2022

Sweet-APPS yielding sweet success

The Sweet-APPS team leverages high-throughput imaging, optical sensing, diagnostics and integrated data analytics to minimize waste and maximize value for the sweetpotato industry.