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Terri Leith
he fall joint meeting luncheon of the N.C. Agricultural, Dairy and Tobacco foundations on Nov. 10 was charged with excitement over news of a potentially impactful future for NC State University, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the state. “It’s an exciting time for agriculture in North Carolina,” said Dr. Richard Reich, associate commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, who brought greetings from Steve Troxler, state agriculture commissioner, as well as news about the successes of the recent N.C. State Fair. “There could not be a more exciting time for N.C. agriculture,” said Dr. Richard Linton, CALS dean, who updated the foundation board members on the college’s Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI). The initiative aims to include an interdisciplinary research and collaborative systems approach that builds on the strengths of academe, industry and government to increase agricultural yields and profitability – and to make North Carolina the global hub for plant-related innovation. “It is indeed a very exciting time,” said Richard Campbell, CALS’ new chief communication officer, as he outlined strategic efforts to
Virginia Yopp, executive director of Extension development, and Richard Campbell, CALS chief communication officer, meet before Campbell delivers news about the Connect NC Bond Package.
engage college stakeholders and inform audiences about a new bond package that will, among other things, enable the plans for the PSI and needed research facilities to come into being, without incurring new taxes or tax increases. Dr. Travis Burke, former interim Extension director, (left) and foundaThe Connect NC tions members Nelson Powell and Paula Woodall attend the joint founbond, announced in dations luncheon. October by N.C. Gov. stituents in what the bond can mean for the Pat McCrory, NC State Chancellor Randy state’s citizens both rural and urban. Woodson and Troxler, along with other state “Agriculture built North Carolina,” he said. leaders, is a $2 billion package that citizens “The N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative will keep it across the state will vote on March 15. The progrowing.” posed Plant Sciences Research Complex is one Returning to the podium, Linton said that, of two university projects for the NC State Cenif asked the biggest potential impact of the tennial Campus that the bond would benefit. PSI, he might say it would be the innovaThe bond would also provide for a new tion that grows the state’s biosciences jobs, NCDA&CS lab, enable projects in 76 counties markets and businesses, or it could be the and enhance vital infrastructure investment, economic dividends of increased productivas well as funding building and repairs for ity and profitability. Or perhaps the promise parts of the UNC system and modernizing the of educational opportunities and of ongoing state’s community colleges. significant basic and applied research. Or “We’re very blessed to have the partnerperhaps healthy, safe, affordable food. Or the ships with these three foundations and the generation of public and private partnerships NCDA&CS,” Campbell said. “And with the among multiple disciplines. PSI, we have a chance to revolutionize how However, he said, “I truly believe I’d like plant science is done.” us to say in the future that this was the first Thus, he said, the challenge now for the time North Carolina came together to push foundations members and other college stakesomething like this forward. And this can be holders “is to be ambassadors and educate an example, a template of what we can do not your communities on what Connect NC is.” only in plant sciences but in other research While asking those present “to fire up your areas to grow North Carolina.” ag base,” he reminded them that “this is in fact As a screen image near the podium proa historic agriculture investment in our state.” claimed, “It’s a new day in North Carolina He called upon the group to help mobilize Agriculture.”– Terri Leith local community efforts to help educate con-
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Terri Leith
New day in North Carolina agriculture heralded at joint foundations meeting
