Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
February 3, 2026
The Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University is experiencing a period of unprecedented vitality. Driven by a booming green industry, now valued at $15.8 billion statewide, the department has reached a historic milestone with nearly 200 undergraduate students currently enrolled. This surge in academic interest highlights the department’s pivotal role as a primary research and talent engine in agriculture.
This benchmark was a focal point of the recent 2026 Horticultural Science Alumni and Friends Reception, held in conjunction with the annual Green & Growin’ conference in Greensboro, North Carolina. The event drew more than 100 industry partners and alumni to celebrate a department that has become a cornerstone of the North Carolina economy.
Garey Fox, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), shared that the green industry is thriving. According to the North Carolina Green Industry Contribution 2023-2024 impact report, this sector provides over 65,000 jobs, ranging from commercial landscaping and nursery production to specialized infrastructure for public parks and highway greenery.
Data-Driven Growth
The department’s current roster includes 46 Agricultural Institute (AGI) students and 64 graduate students, including 30 doctoral candidates. Over the last decade, the program has produced more than 460 graduates, many of whom have ascended to high-profile leadership roles. Notable alumni include 2016 World Food Prize laureates Maria Andrade and Robert Mwanga, recognized for their work in biofortification of sweetpotatoes, as well as industry leaders like Alicain Carlson of Syngenta Flowers Americas and Cal Lewis of Lewis Nursery & Farms.
To maintain this momentum, the university is launching Wolfpack Connect, a partnership designed to create a seamless pipeline between North Carolina’s community colleges and NC State, including the horticultural programs.
The HortPack competition team participated in the exterior landscape design event at the 2025 National Collegiate Landscaping Competition hosted by Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado
Scientific Frontiers
Beyond the classroom, NC State is leveraging its Plant Breeding Consortium, one of the largest groups of its kind in the United States, to address global food security. With more than 65 faculty and research associates, the consortium focuses on developing disease-resistant, stress-tolerant and high-yielding varieties; Covington sweetpotatoes and Von blackberries are good examples of the consortium’s success.
The university is also committed to climate-smart agriculture through its Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture, which aims to accelerate solutions for pest and disease outbreaks that have become increasingly unpredictable due to shifting climate patterns.
Community and Philanthropy
The reception also highlighted the enduring legacy of the JC Raulston Arboretum (JCRA), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. The arboretum remains a vital training ground for interns, bridging the gap between academic theory and hands-on nursery management.
Underscoring the industry’s commitment to this mission, the Johnston County Nursery Marketing Association recently presented the JCRA with a $20,000 gift. The funds are earmarked for the relocation and renovation of the nursery propagation space, a move to help modernize the arboretum’s research capabilities.
As Horticultural Science continues its national search for a new department head and integrates a newly formed External Advisory Board, the focus remains on local impact. Through NC State Extension, three specialized agents continue to work directly with greenhouse and nursery operators, ensuring that the laboratory breakthroughs in Raleigh translate to better yields and healthier landscapes across all 100 North Carolina counties.
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