Hens at Clinton Farm

North Carolina Food Animal Initiative

Establishing North Carolina as the world leader in food-animal biosciences.

A Grand Challenge in Animal Agriculture

North Carolina is a recognized leader in food-animal production. Agriculture contributes $84 billion to the state’s economy and generates 663,200 jobs. More than 60% of that impact stems directly from food-animal systems — and that’s not counting offshore marine fisheries and plant-based agribusiness that supplies feedstocks.

At North Carolina State University, we’re helping North Carolina become the world leader in food-animal sciences by coordinating new research with existing, proven infrastructure. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) have partnered to lead this interdisciplinary initiative. As our work grows, we’ll enlist the support of our partners at NC State and other land grant universities, government and industry.

International Symposium

Big Data in Animal Ag

FAI's first International Symposium on Precision Systems and Data Analysis in Animal Agriculture brought data and animal scientists together to showcase technologies that'll help meet the challenge of feeding a growing population.

Feeding 9.5 Billion by 2050

Requires a 73% Increase in Animal Food Production.
Our Initiative Will Make N.C. a Leader in Feeding the World.

A Strategic Approach to Real Innovation

To encourage collaborative research in animal science, CALS and CVM will fund three competitive Strategic Enrichment Research Grants. Led by faculty members from both colleges, each grant will function as a separate investigation into the production health of swine, cattle and poultry.

Areas include:

  • Developing a system for reducing Porcine Reproductive Syndrome virus in reproductive sows.
  • Developing antibiotic use guidelines to mitigate antibiotic resistance in microbes and ensure food safety.
  • Developing a project to aid Ethiopian poultry producers to enhance livestock production.

We have the resources, partners and skilled personnel to shape the state’s food-animal industry’s growth.

NC State Food Animal Initiative: A Feasibility Study - Poultry Sciences

North Carolina Food Animal Initiative: A Feasibility Study

The report entitled The North Carolina Food Animal Initiative: A Feasibility Study was jointly commissioned by NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine to evaluate core competencies in the animal and poultry sciences, veterinary medicine and associated disciplines, and to study the feasibility of building upon our capabilities by establishing a Food Animal Initiative (FAI). The report’s goal is to provide a path forward for North Carolina to grow its number-one industry.

Infographic on NC food animal production. 5 Poultry Facilities: Chicken, turkey feed mill and waste management units. Free-range and layer program. 4 Pork Facilities: Specialized units for genetics, sustainability and biosecurity. 14 Dairy and Beef Facilities: Providing uniform genetics, health and record-keeping in diverse locations and climates. 3 Aquaculture Facilities: Fresh and saltwater research focused on our evolving resources. 3 Ruminant Facilities: Goat, sheep and alpaca research to meet growing global needs.

Supporting Efforts and Partners

Partnering with industry leaders, we’re bringing interdisciplinary sciences together to solve grand challenges and bring new ideas to market faster.

News More News

FAI In Action: A Unique Fellowship

A tangible outcome of NC State's Food Animal Initiative, the FAI Fellowship is co-advised by two professors. FAI Fellow Catherine Gensler is focusing on effectively manage risk for agritourism visitors to permit high-value experience and the greatest interaction with the animals.

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Collaboration is Key for Food Animal Initiative

NC State's Food Animal Initiative's tri-chair leadership is driving this interdisciplinary initiative, with the goal of establishing North Carolina as a world leader in the food-animal biosciences, to help solve global problems.

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Food Animal Initiative: Vision + Process

Driven by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State's Food Animal Initiative focuses on advancing the research and educational priorities of the food animal industry.

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Contact For More Information

Celeste D. Brogdon
celeste_brogdon@ncsu.edu
(919) 515-7857