The Advanced Plant Technology (APT) Program from Clemson University was designed in 2012 to help South Carolina agricultural industry increase their economy through agribusiness to $50 billion by 2020.
The APT program has impacted South Carolina’s crop production with new varieties of cotton, peaches, peanuts, sorghum and soybeans. The program is directed by geneticist Stephen Kresovich and a group of scientists.
“The primary goal of the Advanced Plant Technology Program is to build bridges and allow a diverse group of talented people to work together and make each other better,” Kresovich, who is also Coker Chair of Genetics and director of Clemson’s Institute of Translational Genomics, said. “Our intent is to construct a network across South Carolina, find more opportunities for funding and do the best we can to strengthen research programs around the state. We’re also committed to working with the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service and taking advantage of the expertise and training Clemson’s agents have to offer. It’s vitally important for people around the state to know what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and why we’re doing it.”
Topics being addressed by the APT program are the Pee Dee Research and Education Center (REC) facility improvements, personnel and recruitments, budget priorities, communication and educational priorities, and a proposal for a certificate program in Translational Genomics.
“We are public servants and want to highlight our capabilities,” Kresovich said. “There are a lot of great programs going on. But we need to be strategic about how we combine our efforts to make the best use of all of the various talents and expertise we have on board. We are stronger as a group than as individuals.”
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