Education Grad Students Dig Into AI for Agriculture
August 14, 2025
NC State’s GRAD-AID for Ag program launched this summer, engaging nine Ph.D. students in hands-on experiences across farms and agricultural research stations in Eastern North Carolina. The program prepares a workforce skilled at the intersection of plant science and artificial intelligence, focusing on practical applications that accelerate the translation of lab research to field solutions.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, GRAD-AID for Ag trains students to integrate multi-omics datasets with field data. They develop expertise in statistical analyses, machine learning, artificial neural networks, and other AI techniques. By the end of the program, fellows earn NC State’s Ag Data Analytics Certificate, equipping them for data-driven agricultural challenges.
Interdisciplinary Training for Complex Agricultural Issues
The program gathers students from diverse fields like Crop and Soil Sciences, Genetics and Genomics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bioinformatics, Biomathematics, and Biological and Agricultural Engineering. This interdisciplinary approach addresses agricultural problems that require blending basic and applied sciences with AI knowledge.
Professor Terri A. Long, the program's principal investigator and platform director for education and workforce development at the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI), highlights the urgency of this training. “Agriculture’s success depends on producing plants that endure heat, drought, and extreme weather while using fewer resources like land and fertilizer,” she explained. “These challenges impact communities now, and AI tools can help develop effective solutions.”
Hands-On Visits and Industry Engagement
During a three-week Summer Graduate Bridge Program, students visited key agricultural technology companies and research centers, including BASF, Syngenta, The Traits Co., IBM, Novonesis, Pairwise, Envu, Nufarm, and SAS. They also connected with startups affiliated with the N.C. PSI Seed2Grow initiative and the N.C. Biotechnology Center. These visits were coordinated by Kathleen Denya, director of innovation partnerships for N.C. PSI.
The fellows toured several research and extension stations such as the Upper Coastal Plain Agricultural Research Station in Rocky Mount, the Vernon G. James Research and Extension Center, Tidewater Research Station in Plymouth, and the Central Crops Research Station in Clayton. They also gained practical insights from local farms, including Hal Bateman’s farm in Tyrrell County, Scattered Acres Farm, and Griffin Farms in Beaufort County.
At the 2025 Blackland Farm Managers Tour at Green Valley Farms, students engaged with farmers and N.C. Cooperative Extension agents, gaining perspectives on current agricultural practices and challenges in Eastern North Carolina.
Stay Connected
To follow the latest updates from GRAD-AID for Ag, connect with the program on LinkedIn.
For those interested in enhancing their AI skills applicable to agriculture and beyond, explore practical AI courses and certifications at Complete AI Training.
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