Why do so many life sciences companies call North Carolina home?

Microbial communities living in soils and on plants are increasingly recognized for their key roles in agroecosystem services, including soil nutrient recycling, disease suppression, plant nutrient provisioning, growth promotion, and stress tolerance. This symposium will address benefits, challenges, knowledge gaps, ethics, and technological advances important for understanding and translating the enormous potential of agricultural microbiomes into practice.

The AgTech Innovation Alliance, an agricultural innovation network spearheaded by California-based nonprofit AgStart, has won a $150,000 Small Business Administration award that includes funds to boost North Carolina’s growing ag tech industry.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is participating as one of the alliance’s eight regional partners in receiving the award. NCBiotech - the only partner on the East Coast - will receive $10,000 over two years to support and promote innovation in crop science, animal health, food tech and precision agriculture.

TARGAN, Inc., a biotechnology systems and animal ag-tech company dedicated to improving agriculture through targeted applications of cutting-edge technologies, celebrated the official opening of its new Raleigh-based headquarters. TARGAN is the first company of its kind to be based in the Raleigh city limits.

The event not only marked a significant milestone for TARGAN but also brought attention to the region’s ongoing growth in the life sciences industry.