News

Apr 25, 2024

The Hidden Giant: Roots, Tubers, and Bananas in Africa

Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) are the most important crops in Africa; they are versatile, resilient, cheap, and easy to grow with little need for irrigation and fertilizer.

Dec 12, 2023

A Patented Winner

The National Academy of Inventors named NC State University’s Craig Yencho a 2023 fellow for his contributions to improved sweetpotato and potato breeding and genetics, with an impact reaching from North Carolina to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dec 11, 2023

Sweetpotatoes’ Flavor is More Complex Than You Think

In this Public Broadcasting Service episode of Hungry Planet, North Carolina State University doctoral student Modesta Abugu tells Niba about her research to make sweetpotatoes more delicious by identifying the aromatic molecules that give rise to their complex flavor.

Jun 1, 2023

New funding for CGIAR breeding to boost food and nutrition security in Africa 

CGIAR is to receive a USD$30 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop modern and efficient breeding systems for root, tuber, and banana (RTB) staple crops for sub-Saharan Africa.

Oct 25, 2022

Craig Yencho and Ken Pecota Receive Innovator of the Year Award

Dr. Craig Yencho and Ken Pecota of the Sweetpotato Breeding and Genetics Programs were both honored with the Innovator of the Year

Oct 14, 2022

Modesta Abugu: Improving Sweetpotato Flavor for Nutrition Security

Ph.D. student Modesta Abugu is researching flavor compounds in sweetpotatoes with a goal of increasing consumption and improving global nutrition security.

Oct 29, 2021

Protecting Our State’s New Rural Cash Crop

The true profit potential of sweetpotatoes has been held back by an aggressive and invasive pest. NC State’s Craig Yencho will lead a $5 million grant-funded project to fight it.

Feb 9, 2021

PSI Profile: Chris Reberg-Horton, Platform Director for Resilient Agricultural Systems

The North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative’s platform director for resilient agricultural systems shares thoughts on the position, the initiative, agriculture and NC State.

Feb 8, 2021

PSI Profile: Ross Sozzani, Platform Director for Plant Improvement

The plant improvement platform director for the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative shares her vision: collaboration, innovative crop technologies and students ready for the workforce.

Jan 18, 2021

PSI Profile: Geoff Bock, Interim Director of Operations

One of the first people tapped with turning the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative vision into a reality was CALS alumnus Geoff Bock. Hired in 2016 as the project manager, Bock now also serves as the interim director of operations.