Experts propose plan to establish 42-county agtech innovation corridor in North Carolina

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (July 16, 2025) — A report released today by a coalition of North Carolina institutions outlines a plan to establish an agricultural technology (agtech) innovation corridor across 42 counties in North Carolina, 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.

The corridor would connect small farms to the state’s technology and research sectors.

The 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 and including Duke University, East Carolina 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.

“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 often remain disconnected from North Carolina’s many small-acreage farms and farmers poised to influence and benefit from agtech innovation.”

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.

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 in size. These farms can face barriers to adopting new technologies, accessing markets and participating in innovation networks.

Lucia Strader, Duke University Professor of Biology, serves as the Duke lead on the CROPS project. “It has been exciting to partner with institutions across the state to envision how the immense expertise and potential of plant biology and AgTech can be enabled and realized for North Carolina. Prioritizing current and future farmer needs will pave a path for agricultural success by focusing research efforts on end-user goals,” said Strader.

“Duke University is proud to be a member of the CROPS coalition, driving innovation at the forefront of agricultural technology,” said Sharlini Sankaran, Director of External Partnerships at Duke University’s Office for External Partnerships. “Our researchers are advancing transformative AgTech solutions—including edge computing for real-time field analytics, AI-enabled genome editing, and the development of climate-resilient, pest-resistant crops. We look forward to deepening collaboration with coalition and industry partners to translate these technologies into deployable solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability for farmers.”

A map of the proposed agtech innovation corridor. The report includes more detailed maps of existing assets across the corridor, including research stations, community colleges, economic development organizations and farmer-led initiatives.

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 feedback to accelerate commercialization.

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.

RTI thanks the many individuals and organizations that contributed to this report, including CROPS partners and external reviewers from the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, NC Department of Commerce, NC 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.

Read the full report

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.

About Duke University

Entering its second century, Duke University is consistently ranked among the top U.S. research universities and is home to leading graduate and professional schools in business, divinity, engineering, the environment, law, medicine, nursing, and public policy. Located in Durham, N.C., Duke’s global reach extends through the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore, Duke Kunshan University in China, and various international research and education programs.

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