East of Innovation: How smart agriculture is changing eastern Carolina

EASTERN CAROLINA, N.C. (WITN) - East Carolina University is developing sensor-based technology designed to help farmers in Eastern Carolina monitor crops, water levels and growing conditions — part of a broader effort to modernize agriculture in the region.

ECU’s Center for Internet of Things Engineering and Innovation has deployed sensors on farms across eastern Carolina, including canals managed by Middle Creek Farms in Hyde County. The devices measure water depth in real time, alerting farmers when flooding may be a risk.

“That information the farmer can use to know whether he needs to turn this pump on,” said Andrea Gibbs, Hyde County Cooperative Extension Agent.

Farmers in the area have traditionally spent hours driving between canals to manually manage pumps as water levels change. The sensors are designed to reduce that workload.

The devices can also measure soil moisture and temperature and can be placed in fields, grain bins and catfish farms to collect data around the clock.

“When we talk about smart agriculture we’re talking about leveraging technology in order to optimize the growing process,” said Dr. Ciprian Popoviciu, director of ECU’s Center for IoT Engineering and Innovation. “The idea is you can monitor a lot of variables and based on the data you’re collecting you not only can find better ways in which you can do the growing but also you can actively change things.”

Some sensors have also been deployed in a greenhouse in Wilson, in a one-of-a-kind project partly funded by the USDA. The project is a collaboration among ECU, the City of Wilson, its broadband network Greenlight, community co-working space Gig East, and RIOT, a Raleigh-based nonprofit tech company.

In the greenhouse, sensors help growers test new crops and business models. A pilot project currently growing tomatoes is intended to give farmers a blueprint for building larger greenhouses on their own land and growing crops year-round.

“Hit that off season where you can get premium prices for those kinds of vegetables or produce,” said Charlie Bourne, smart agriculture program coordinator for RIOT.

“Help them grow in a way that’s sustainable and is going to benefit the overall economic development of the entire region,” said Emily Wells, community and engagement manager for Greenlight Community Broadband, City of Wilson.

Popoviciu said the technology is aimed at helping small and mid-sized farms remain viable.

“What these farmers need to stay afloat to have that margin to survive is to constantly optimize how they do things,” he said.

“In ten years from now what I would love to see is that if you choose to continue the tradition of your own farm, small, medium farm, you can survive and compete,” Popoviciu said.

Gibbs is scheduled to meet with farmers Wednesday to explain the technology and expand sensor deployment.

We’ll have another East of Innovation report in March as we take a look at how technology is changing the way we live in eastern Carolina.

You can watch January’s East of Innovation report on how advanced air mobility is transforming Eastern Carolina by clicking here.