Biotechnology in Agriculture

North Carolina is a place where agricultural tradition and 21st century science meet to create unmatched research and business opportunities.

Here, virtually any ag tech company, researcher, investor, or holder of intellectual property will find unique opportunities for transforming ideas into products.

This is evident in our 195+ ag tech companies and hundreds of world-class ag tech scientists, including global thought leaders working in our colleges and universities.

Transforming the Way the World Grows

Year after year, agriculture, including food, fiber and forestry, remains one of the North Carolina's largest industries and a way of life for many of its people. As the state’s economy grows to include new technological innovations, the building blocks of renewable energy, and plants that manufacture medicines, its roots in agriculture remain evident and relevant.

State agricultural leaders note that the industry contributes some $92.9 billion to the economy every year. That’s about 16 percent of the state's income. Over 750k employees of N.C.’s workforce are involved in some aspect of agriculture.

NCBiotech has awarded 443 ag tech grants and 40 ag tech loans totaling $21.4M and $3.2M, respectively. Every $1 invested in ag-related grants yields $121 in additional funding, and every $1 invested in ag-related loans yields $283 in additional funding.

Companies, Campuses and Collaborators

There are more than 195 ag tech companies across the state, clustered around plant, animal, food, technology and support. The company roster includes international giants BASF Plant Science, Bayer, Corteva, DuPont Pioneer, Novozymes and Syngenta.

North Carolina offers wide-ranging research and field trials at 18 research stations statewide. It’s also home to two land-grant ag research universities and a 58-campus community college system.

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195+

Ag Tech Companies

4 of 5

top global ag tech companies

$92.9B

ag economy

Subsectors

90-Plant, 32-Animal, 12-Food, 26-Technology, 36-Support

2

land grant universities

18

research stations

Agriculture News & Events

October 5, 2023 - October 6, 2023

ConvergeSouth 2023

This two-day event will feature:

Expert-led breakout sessions
A startup expo with 75 exhibiting companies
Investment firms from across the Southeast

Call for Presentations

Topics should be of interest to founders that will be attending and exhibiting, as well as the digerati in the region. They should focus on sales, marketing, operational systems, digital media, fundraising, tech platforms, etc.

June 20, 2023 - June 20, 2023

The Business of Innovation

Early-stage businesses face a unique set of foundational challenges during the early stages of growth. The “Business of Innovation” is a workshop series offered in multiple locations throughout North Carolina that highlights the unique needs of innovation-driven companies, including university spinouts.

Learn from experts in the areas of dilutive and non-dilutive funding, legal & IP, business development, and university tech transfer, and network with successful innovation-oriented entrepreneurs.

June 15, 2023 - June 15, 2023

Finding Alpha in Agritech's Next Sustainability Revolution

Whether you're an investor considering allocating assets to the dynamic agrifood sector, working in the sector or exploring ag careers, please join Vidavo Ventures on June 15 to hear a venture perspective on the state of ag innovation.

Attendees will gain a deeper knowledge of agrifood innovation trends, the sector’s opportunities and challenges and unique venture investment strategies to drive strong returns and positive climate impact. Don't miss an opportunity to connect with industry experts, engage with investors and expand your network.

Agriculture Sector Development Programs

NCBiotech's Agriculture Sector Development team is part of the Center's Focused Initiative Team bringing added value to sectors of the life sciences.

NC Ag Tech Council
North Carolina's ag tech ecosystem has joined together to form a Council comprised of key leaders from varying perspectives in the agriculture industry and academia. Organized by NCBiotech, the Council addresses key opportunities, challenges, and gaps that present themselves in our state and create solutions that drive impact.
NC Ag Tech Loan Fund
The State of NC has invested $500k in recurring funds to be awarded to NC based, early-stage, ag tech companies. These awards will range from $100-250k for crop science, animal health and nutrition, food science, and precision ag/ag data analytics. To learn more, visit our funding page or contact David_Rosenthal@ncbiotech.org.
NC Ag Tech Professional Forum
The Forum is currently on hiatus as we look to revamp this program.
2022 Professional Forums:
February 23 (Crops) | April 21 (Food Tech) | September 21 (Animal Health & Nutrition) | November 16 (Data Science)
Visit our NCAgTech YouTube Channel to view other program recordings.
Ponytail Ag Campaign
Four of North Carolina's key agricultural partners are coming together in a collaborative effort to highlight the contributions women have made to the agriculture industry in North Carolina. NCBiotech will be working with N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Farm Bureau, and Feed the Dialogue N.C. on a social media campaign.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
NC Animal Health & Nutrition - Intellectual Exchange Group
This program provides a forum for academic and industry professionals working in this space to discuss topics of relevance, identify technologies for spun out from universities, and network to develop peer-level relationships and company collaborations. Learn more
NC Alt Protein Coalition - Intellectual Exchange Group
This program is an interdisciplinary group of alternative protein stakeholders in NC, with a shared goal to facilitate the creation of an equitable agri-food ecosystem and grow the state as a global alternative protein hub. Learn more

Many people and groups like the Biotech Center helped us prove our concept so we could attract our first venture capital investment more than three years ago.

AAD President and CEO, Joy Parr Drach

Ag Tech companies in NC

There are 195+ ag tech companies are operating across the state of North Carolina. They include:

See All

Stay connected by subscribing to our monthly AgTEXT newsletter.

For questions or more information, contact:
Paul Ulanch, Ph.D., MBA
Senior Director of Stewardship, Focused Initiative Team 919-549-8818 | paul_ulanch@ncbiotech.org

Read about North Carolina Life Sciences in American Affairs Journal.

Biotechnology in Agriculture

Follow us on Twitter

195+

4 of 5

$92.9B

Subsectors

2

18

Agriculture News & Events

Call for Presentations

Agriculture Sector Development Programs

NC Ag Tech Council

NC Ag Tech Loan Fund

NC Ag Tech Professional Forum

Ponytail Ag Campaign

NC Animal Health & Nutrition - Intellectual Exchange Group

NC Alt Protein Coalition - Intellectual Exchange Group

Ag Tech companies in NC