ECU part of proposed agricultural technology corridor in North Carolina | News Services
GREENVILLE, N.C. (July 16, 2025) — East Carolina University is part of a coalition of institutions working to establish an agricultural technology (agtech) innovation corridor across 42 North Carolina counties, with a vision of connecting the state’s technology, research and agricultural sectors in ways that broaden how farmers participate in and benefit from agtech innovation.
A report authored by RTI International is one of a collection of insights being created as part of the Climate-Responsive Opportunities in Plant Science (CROPS) project, a partnership led by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University that includes ECU, Duke University, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, RTI International and Wake Forest University.
The report identifies five opportunities to strengthen the state’s agtech ecosystem: bridging research-to-farm gaps, accelerating commercialization, leveraging agtech to improve market access, enhancing ecosystem coordination and developing a job-ready agtech workforce.
“ECU’s mission is to be a national model for student success, public service, and regional transformation. Being part of an initiative dedicated to the needs of farm families and businesses who feed our communities exemplifies our commitment to eastern North Carolina and places across our state. Together we aim to design agricultural technologies and establish research partnerships that make a difference for our region and beyond,” said Dr. Angela Lamson, ECU professor and senior fellow for the office of innovation and engagement. “This report represents a commitment to using agricultural technology to grow North Carolina. We are focused on research and innovation that matters most to growers, while also strengthening the current and future agricultural workforce.”
North Carolina is home to more than 180 agtech companies and a globally recognized research hub in the Research Triangle Park. But the authors note that more than 70% of the state’s 42,000 farms are located in rural counties, and more than half are under 50 acres. These farms can face barriers to adopting new technologies, accessing markets and participating in innovation networks.
“Our work highlights the potential for North Carolina to lead in agtech innovation by building stronger connections between farmers, researchers, extension agents and entrepreneurs,” said Amanda Rose, agri-food systems lead at RTI and lead author of the report. “While the state has world-class research institutions and a growing agtech industry, these resources remain disconnected from North Carolina’s many small-acreage farms and farmers poised to influence and benefit from agtech innovation efforts.”
The report includes several case studies that illustrate the potential impact of the agtech innovation corridor. One example describes how partnerships between farmers and agtech developers could help farmers gain exposure to emerging technologies while providing developers with valuable beta testing feedback.
The authors drew from extensive primary and secondary data, including desk reviews, focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders to identify trends, challenges and opportunities in the state’s agtech ecosystem.
Next steps for CROPS partners include sharing report findings with agtech innovation stakeholders across the state to support strategic planning and resource mobilization efforts. CROPS partners also are compiling and digitizing relevant NC agtech innovation resources and piloting a cohort of Extension Agents to beta test emerging agtech in partnership with an NC-based startup.
Among the individuals and organizations that contributed to the report were external reviewers from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Chamber and North Carolina-based agtech investment firm LeVert Ventures.
CROPS is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Regional Innovation Engines Type 1 planning award.
The full report is available to view on RTI’s website.
Media Contacts:
RTI International:
RTI Media Relations
East Carolina University:
Kim Tilghman
NC Biotechnology Center:
Chris Capot
About East Carolina University
Founded in 1907 as a teacher’s college, East Carolina University (ECU) is a Carnegie R1 designated research institution that is a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation. ECU is a member of the University of North Carolina System and serves nearly 27,000 students through more than 160 degree programs. The university advances innovation and discovery in health care, coastal resilience, education and regional economic growth. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, ECU is committed to being a national leader in community-focused innovation, bringing meaningful impact across the state and nation.
About RTI International
RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world’s most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
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