Plant Sciences Initiative

Dec 8, 2025

Researchers Are Out to Take a Bite Out of a Big Challenge for Christmas Tree Growers: Deer

Can researchers stop deer from eating Christmas trees?.

Prairie strip growing in wheat at the LTER Main Cropping Systems Experiment.

Sep 8, 2025

Suite of Models Shows Some Positive Effects of Climate-Smart Ag Practices

No-till farming, cover-crop utilization and residue retention can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study using a suite of models.

artistic rendering of plants with white and purple flowers

Aug 13, 2025

Plants in Focus

Art and science come together in a series of fall NC State events that invite us to think anew about plants and the role they play in our daily lives.

Green rhododendron leave with green blotches

Jan 31, 2025

Moving Plant Disease Diagnosis from Lab to Field for Faster Results

North Carolina State University researchers continue to push the field of plant disease diagnosis forward, developing simple-to-run tests capable of delivering results in minutes, sometimes before plants show visible signs…

Researchers with poplar trees in a greenhouse.

Oct 18, 2024

Finding Could Help Turn Trees Into Affordable, Greener Industrial Chemicals

Specific molecular property of lignin in trees determines difficulty of using microbial fermentation to turn trees and other plants into industrial chemicals.

A graphic & data visualization of green and red tomatoes cut in half.

Sep 9, 2024

Precision Sensors: An Innovative Future for Agriculture

Interdisciplinary teams at the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative are innovating sensors to help farmers face emerging plant diseases and climate change.

Portion of a solar panel against a blue sky with clouds.

Aug 7, 2024

Partnership Seeds Two Agricultural Sensor Projects

A new partnership among NC State University’s Institute for Connected Sensor Systems, N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative and Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science has provided seed funding for two interdisciplinary…

Two men standing beside a large bench-shaped robot.

Jun 13, 2024

N.C. PSI Advances AI for Agriculture

The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative is leading efforts to put artificial intelligence to work for increased yields, efficiency and sustainability.

Adrian Percy addresses a crowd from a podium

Apr 16, 2024

N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative Launches Startup Incubator and Seed2Grow Program

The N.C. Plant Sciences incubator provides lab and office space for emerging companies taking discoveries from plant sciences research and turning them into marketable solutions for agriculture and the environment.

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.

Photo of 3D printer bioprinting plant cells.

Oct 14, 2022

3D Printing Plant Cells Shows Promise for Studying Cell Function

Researchers take a big step in showing efficacy of bioprinting plant cells to study cellular communication and viability in a controlled environment.

Sep 2, 2021

NC State and BASF: Dedicated to a Sustainable Future

As partners, NC State and BASF have completed more than 100 research projects together, including plant sciences innovation and crop protection.

May 17, 2021

To Preserve Global Food Security, New Tools Needed to Prevent Plant Disease Pandemics

Global plant disease surveillance and detection systems - along with plant disease modeling - are needed to protect plants - and the food supply.

Aerial of tractor spraying fields at Lake Wheeler farms.

Aug 5, 2020

Seed-funding Grows Agricultural Advancements

GRIP4PSI, a seed-funding program for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, invests in a better future for growers and consumers alike.

Jun 30, 2020

Using Leaf Fungi to Improve Crop Resilience

An NC State team led by Christine Hawkes is identifying beneficial fungi found in five crops to improve disease and drought resistance.