Agricultural Business Innovation Center
The Agriculture Business Innovation Center aims to increase the number of successful agricultural businesses across the nation by providing technical assistance through collaborative efforts. Our focus is on enhancing the ability of agricultural business owners to plan, create, develop, and fund ventures.
We bring together the educational and outreach capacity of our partnering institutions to develop a pipeline of resilient farms, firms, and individuals, enhancing their competitiveness in domestic and international agribusiness and food industries. Based at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the center collaborates with Alabama A&M University, Kentucky State University, and West Virginia State University.
We seek to address
- The underrepresentation of certain farms and firms in U.S. agriculture-based business structures.
- The limited availability of agriculture-related community development programs in both urban and rural areas.
- The need for practical, agriculture-based entrepreneurial training for students attending partnering institutions.
We provide education and technical resources to expand opportunities for agriculture-based businesses. We support regional and national partnerships and facilitate outreach so that these businesses can access private venture capital, data tracking, and analysis tools.
Our Objectives
Undergraduate Research Scholar Alice Mukunzi says that the hands-on experience with data that she received in Dr. Kenrett Jefferson-Moore's lab ignited her career in agribusiness.
The Agriculture Business Innovation Center will provide assistance by:
- Offering real-time data sharing through an online user portal, integrated with partner institution program sites.
- Delivering training and business consulting services to agricultural enterprises through collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary consulting teams.
- Encouraging multidisciplinary research, teaching, outreach, and event coordination through a national virtual colloquium series.
- Hosting virtual speaker series that bring together industry professionals, government officials, faculty, and students.
- Sponsoring publication outlets (e.g., white papers, blogs, media) to promote public/private partnerships and share best practices in agricultural business planning, funding, and development.
Our Collaborators
- Center of Post-Harvest Technologies
- International Trade Center
- Cooperative Extension 1890 Universities Center of Excellence
- Regional Rural Development Centers
- The Ohio State University-South Centers
- North Carolina A&T State University
- Small Farms Innovation Center
- National Market Maker
- NC Farm Credit
Contact
Principal Investigator
Agribusiness Innovation Center (ABIC)
(336) 285-4829
jykenret@ncat.edu
Managing Director
Agribusiness Innovation Center (ABIC)
(336) 285-4823
ameredith@ncat.edu
