The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has announced the rebranding of its grant program to North Carolina Agriculture Innovations & Research, or NCAIR. The updated program aims to support agricultural research and strengthen the state’s agricultural economy.
Previously, funding was distributed through three separate initiatives: the Bioenergy Research Initiative, the New and Emerging Crops Program, and Innovations to Advance the Agriculture Economy. These will now operate under a single umbrella as NCAIR.
The grant program was created in 2013 by the state legislature to encourage research on agricultural and forestry-based feedstock for bioenergy production. In 2018, it expanded to include new crop research and promotion. The most recent change came in 2024 when the General Assembly broadened its scope again to include projects supporting agriculture innovation and technologies.
“NCAIR is replacing those three areas of focus with an umbrella-style approach that better encompasses all the goals and vision for this program,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I am grateful for the legislature’s continued investment in agriculture advancements.”
The department said this rebranding follows discussions about improving the direction of the program based on past challenges.
“When I took over this role, I spoke with many people around the department and those directly involved with the program about what this program does well, what could be improved and how to go about making positive impactful changes,” said Charles Fletcher, director of Agricultural Project Management. “As we move forward to a better tomorrow, we hope NCAIR can be a cog in the wheel that helps North Carolina agriculture blossom.”
According to NCDA&CS officials, one goal of renaming is to reduce confusion caused by multiple acronyms while clarifying that NCAIR covers all forms of innovation and research across North Carolina agriculture.
The NCDA&CS plays several roles within the state including promoting sustainable farming practices, ensuring food safety, protecting consumers, managing forests through specialized divisions like NC Forest Service, and supporting community farming practices (https://www.ncagr.gov). Agriculture remains central to North Carolina’s economy; together with agribusinesses it generates $102 billion annually (https://www.ncagr.gov). The state also leads national production in crops such as sweet potatoes and tobacco (https://www.ncagr.gov). Steve Troxler serves as commissioner for NCDA&CS (https://www.ncagr.gov).
