Key Takeaways
- Enhanced Agricultural Research: The partnership between North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina State University, and SAS aims to advance agricultural research through cutting-edge technology.
- Focus on Precision Agriculture: This collaboration will boost efforts in precision agriculture, supporting continuous advancements in plant sciences, animal husbandry, and crop yields.
- Extension Program Utilization: The partnership will deliver research insights directly to farmers and growers through the universities’ extensive extension programs, facilitating immediate application and benefits.
- Support for Underrepresented Farmers: The initiative emphasizes support for small, limited-resource, and minority farmers, enhancing their access to the latest agricultural technology and data insights.
- Future Prospects: The collaboration is set to attract more research grants, enhance academic and industry partnerships, and foster talent in agricultural sciences.
Growing from a Fruitful Partnership
Introduction to the Collaboration
A significant new partnership involving North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), North Carolina State University (NC State), and SAS, a leader in data analytics and AI, is poised to transform agricultural research and application across North Carolina. Leveraging the strengths of each entity, this initiative promises to bring advanced data-driven solutions from the laboratory to the farm, significantly impacting the state’s agricultural output and sustainability.
Technology and Innovation in Agriculture
The partnership builds on the existing relationship between SAS and NC State’s Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI). In 2020, SAS collaborated with PSI to develop a data and analytics platform that has been instrumental in multidisciplinary agricultural research, such as detecting plant diseases and enhancing crop sustainability. With the introduction of SAS® Viya®, an advanced analytics and AI platform, NC A&T, and NC State are set to further this innovation, targeting more efficient research processes and enhanced data integration across multiple sources.
Benefits to the Agricultural Community
The initiative is particularly focused on serving the diverse needs of North Carolina’s agricultural community, including small and minority-owned farms. Shirley Hymon-Parker, Interim Dean at NC A&T, highlighted the commitment to delivering accessible, advanced agricultural knowledge to all community sectors. This collaboration’s research and insights will enhance yields, improve efficiency and sustainability, and reduce costs through better data management and analytics.
State Support and Economic Impact
The collaboration is not only a technological venture but also supported by significant state funding and legislative backing, recognizing the critical role of agriculture in North Carolina’s economy—which has an annual economic impact exceeding $100 billion. State officials, including Sen. Brent Jackson and Rep. Jimmy Dixon, have strongly supported the initiative, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize agricultural practices and economic development.
Looking Ahead
The partnership is expected to catalyze additional research grants, attract talent, and develop new capabilities within the agricultural sector. Both universities anticipate that these efforts will support current agricultural practices and prepare the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals. Leah Burton of SAS remarked on the robust capabilities of the SAS platform, which are ideal for supporting such a complex and critical field as agriculture.
Image provided by SAS
