Plant Science is the study of how plants are used to produce food, alter environments, restore damaged landscapes, improve human health and well-being, improve community environments, and provide recreational and practical benefits to the public. Plant science is essential to maintaining the world around us. Plant scientists have been improving the quality of life for people around the world for generations.
The Plant Science program at the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC) explores how plants sustain life, shape environments, and strengthen communities. Our work focuses on understanding plant growth and development to improve food production, restore ecosystems, enhance human well-being, and create healthy, sustainable environments.
NCROC's Plant Science team works towards advancing sustainable agriculture and crop improvement through hands-on research and collaboration. We study everything from breeding new cultivars and improving plant health to refining sustainable production practices and exploring how plants interact with their environment.
Research areas include plant breeding, horticultural production, nursery and floriculture management, sustainable plant health, agroecology, and agronomy. Together, these disciplines aim to increase crop quality, promote environmental stewardship, and support the vitality of Minnesota’s agricultural and natural systems.
Through innovative research and outreach, the NCROC Plant Science program continues a long tradition of using science to improve the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of the plants that sustain and enrich our lives.
