North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Contact: Harmandeep Sharma
Country: USA
Award Category: Community Uplift
Tell how you've used SAS to have a positive impact on your community.
As a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at North Carolina A&T State University (NCA&T), I am dedicated to harnessing digital agriculture tools—such as sensors, drones, and machine learning technologies—to refine resource management for specialty crops (hot peppers, fresh-market tomatoes, and dual-purpose hemp) in North Carolina. My focus is particularly aimed at enhancing the capabilities of small-scale farmers through the integration of precision technologies.
A critical component of my work involves extensive use of data analytics, driven by real-time data collected from various digital tools. In this context, SAS products play a pivotal role in my research, teaching, and outreach initiatives, all directed toward uplifting underserved communities and limited-resource farmers in North Carolina. Within our research framework, my students and I use SAS Viya to analyze drone and sensor data to develop predictive models. Our findings are regularly presented at scientific conferences and farmer outreach events, significantly advancing knowledge transfer in sustainable crop production and providing direct benefits to small-scale farmers.
Dr. Sharma, who is instrumental in supporting agricultural analytics at our college, leads the Ag Analytics platform. This initiative has successfully secured $1 million in recurring funds from the North Carolina General Assembly and is a collaborative effort among North Carolina A&T State University, NC State University, and SAS, aimed at bolstering agricultural research and facilitating statewide dissemination of our findings (https:/caes.news/sas-ai-platform-to-help-n-c-at-ncsu-take-research-to-the-people/).
In terms of outreach, Dr. Sharma has orchestrated numerous workshops for graduate students, faculty, and extension agents, empowering them to effectively analyze their datasets and translate raw data into actionable insights. Beyond these technical contributions, Dr. Sharma is a dedicated educator, involved in teaching key graduate-level courses such as Crop Ecology (NARS 604) and Experimental Methods in Research (AGRI 604), integral to the academic structure of the College.
Furthermore, under Dr. Sharma’s leadership, a team of students from NC A&T participated in the SAS Hackathon. Our team, named "Esse Quam Videri"—North Carolina’s state motto meaning "To be rather than to seem"—focused on analyzing and addressing gender and racial disparities among small-scale rural farmers (https://caes.news/using-data-to-make-a-difference-at-team-competes-in-sas-hackathon/). By utilizing the SAS Data Maker platform, we aimed to develop open-source datasets that protect sensitive information yet provide invaluable resources for policymakers dedicated to supporting female and minority farm owners. This innovative, multidisciplinary project not only achieved finalist recognition at SAS but is also being considered as a potential framework for the enhancement of agricultural statistical reporting.
Through these varied initiatives, SAS technology has empowered me to assist small-scale farmers in making informed decisions and advocating against disparities, significantly impacting the lives of small, limited-resource, and minority farmers who are crucial to the sustainability of North Carolina’s agricultural landscape.
What SAS products are you using and how are you using them?
As a Research Assistant Professor, I have extensively utilized various SAS products to enhance the scope and efficacy of my research projects. These include SAS Visual Analytics, SAS Model Studio on the SAS Viya platform, and SAS Data Maker. My research focuses on understanding plant responses to varied agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers and irrigation, across multiple spatial scales—from individual leaves to entire plant communities. To facilitate this research, I employ a diverse array of tools, including portable infrared gas analyzer leaf chambers and drones equipped with multispectral and thermal imaging sensors. SAS Viya is frequently used to manage the substantial datasets collected from these tools, which record data on an hourly and daily basis. Data integration is further enhanced by artificial intelligence through SAS Model Studio, where I create and compare modeling pipelines. This strategic application of SAS technology significantly expedites knowledge transfer, enhancing productivity and sustainability among farmers.
Additionally, during this year's SAS Hackathon participation, our team employed novel data anonymization techniques and synthetic data generation tools within SAS Viya and SAS Data Maker to address gender and racial disparities among small rural farms.
Moreover, as the College's technical lead for the Ag Analytics platform, I have organized several workshops centered on SAS technologies. These workshops cover topics such as SAS Visual Analytics, SAS Visual Statistics, and advanced forecasting and modeling techniques using SAS Viya and SAS Model Studio. I am the first faculty member from NC A&T to receive the prestigious SAS HBCU+ Fellowship award, and one of only four recipients nationwide in 2024 (https://blogs.sas.com/content/sascom/2024/02/07/passion-in-practice-how-sas-hbcu-fellows-are-shaping...). I have integrated SAS Viya into one of my graduate-level courses, Experimental Methods in Research (AGRI 604), which is vital to the graduate program at CAES at NC A&T. Through these educational initiatives, I aim to empower students, faculty, and extension agents with the skills necessary to transform complex datasets into actionable insights, furthering the impact of digital agriculture on sustainable farming practices.
Furthermore, during our participation in the SAS Hackathon, our project focused on the systemic factors leading to gender and racial disparities, which often result in inequitable outcomes for small rural farms. To our surprise, SAS Data Maker enabled the examination of granular-level patterns and trends without compromising sensitive personal information, thereby promoting an environment conducive to equity-driven decision-making. The integration of SAS Data Maker provided a robust framework for generating high-quality synthetic data that closely mirrors real-world scenarios, enhancing the reliability of our findings.
Therefore, by incorporating SAS products like SAS Viya, Model Studio, and Data Maker into my projects, I have not only improved the accuracy and efficacy of our predictive models but also enhanced my ability to address critical social issues within the agricultural sector. The success in using data science to reveal and potentially mitigate disparities in farming underscores the broader implications of my team’s work. It illustrates a path forward where advanced analytics and ethical data practices can coalesce to create more just and sustainable agricultural systems. Ultimately, these efforts reflect both my commitment and that of NCA&T to leveraging cutting-edge technology to foster inclusivity and resilience in farming communities, setting a new standard for how agricultural data is utilized to benefit society as a whole.
