Stories From 2025
Trade and Ag Experts Converge at NC State
The world’s grand challenges don’t conform to the boundaries between academic disciplines—or the borders between nations. Trade decisions made in Brussels have profound effects on oil palm farmers in Malaysia. A war between Ukraine and Russia cuts off access to fertilizer for farmers on the Indian subcontinent.
Benefits of North Carolina Adopting African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables
Adopting African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables in North Carolina offers a triple-win: economic opportunity for growers, improved nutrition for communities, and a more sustainable, resilient agricultural system. With proper extension support, marketing channels, and education, these vegetables could become a valuable asset to North Carolina’s diverse and evolving agricultural landscape.
NC State and Moldova Forge Path for Agricultural Innovation and Education
NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is strengthening its partnership with the Technical University of Moldova (TUM) to enhance agricultural education, research and innovation in the Eastern European nation. Building on decades of ties between North Carolina and Moldova, this collaboration is now focused on modernizing Moldova’s agricultural sector and preparing its workforce for the challenges of the 21st century.
Institute Cultivates Tomorrow’s Food and Ag Leaders
In early April, 70 teens took part in the 2025 North Carolina Youth Institute. The two-day event gave them the chance to interact with university students and faculty members, to take part in experiential workshops and to share their ideas for addressing global challenges in food, agriculture and sustainability.
Simon Fraher: Sweetpotato Genetics PostDoc
Simon Fraher is a highly skilled vegetable breeder finishing his doctorate this spring semester with NC State University’s Sweetpotato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Programs. His focus is to benefit the sweetpotato community with molecular marker development for guava root knot nematodes and pioneering genomic selection research. These breeding efforts bolster North Carolina’s economy as a leading sweetpotato producer and help address food and nutritional insecurity in tropical regions around the world.
Ken Monjero Brings Kenyan Innovation and Youth Empowerment to NC State
“The globe is now a village,” Monjero said. “What we do in Kenya can complement what’s happening here in North Carolina. Sharing ideas across borders will help us address local issues before they become global problems.” Read more about Dr. Ken Monjero's work here.
CALS Strengthens Ties with Embrapa, Brazilian Agricultural Powerhouse
In a move to expand its global reach and foster international collaboration, CALS is solidifying a partnership with Embrapa, Brazil's leading agricultural research institution. A recent trip to Brazil by CALS faculty and leadership has set the stage for a promising collaboration that could revolutionize agricultural research and innovation across both institutions.
Transforming Malawi’s Agricultural Landscape Through Food Safety
As part of the eight faculty who traveled to Malawi, Fernanda Santos, assistant professor in NC State University’s Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, sees an opportunity in educating on the safest ways of washing, cutting and bagging fruits and vegetables to minimize risks from foodborne pathogens.
Crop Water Dynamics Research in Japan
SUMMER 2024 Tommy Godwin Increasing global temperatures have made breeding crops for drought tolerance an utmost priority for protecting global food security. However, crop water use dynamics are poorly understood especially in regards to physiology and plant hydraulics. In order […]
Soil Specialist Enthusiastic for International Partnerships
A faculty delegation traveled to Malawi to identify research and extension gaps and they can help solve the issues.