About Mountain Crop Improvement (MCI) Lab

Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the MCI lab is located at NC State’s Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center. Here, faculty, staff, and graduate students conduct applied research in plant science that results in the development of new and improved crops, technologies, and sustainable production practices. Graduate student programs provide advanced training, education, and degrees. Partnerships with industry are yielding new products, intellectual property, and competitive advantages. Projects on new bioenergy crops are serving North Carolina’s diverse energy and economic needs. These engagements are fostering a healthy environment, careers, energy independence, and economic development. In short, growing a greener and more prosperous world…