What does it take to keep North Carolina agriculture competitive in a rapidly changing world?
Today’s farmers face complex challenges that require more than traditional solutions. The Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI) at NC State University was created to meet that challenge by bringing together researchers, farmers, industry leaders, and government partners to solve real problems and deliver practical innovations to the field.
The Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $48.5 million to support the design and construction of the PSI building. The PSI serves as a hub for cutting-edge research, technology development, and workforce training. The initiative is designed to connect research and development to impact by ensuring that discoveries don’t stay in the lab, but reach the farmers and agribusiness professionals in North Carolina and beyond that can use that information in the field.
At its core, PSI focuses on four key areas shaping the future of agriculture: improving crop resilience, advancing digital agriculture tools, strengthening sustainable production systems, and preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders. By combining expertise across disciplines and working directly with farmers, PSI is accelerating the pace at which new solutions are developed, tested, and adopted.
This collaborative, public–private model is also driving economic growth by supporting new startup companies, attracting industry investment, and positioning North Carolina as a national leader in agricultural innovation.
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