NDSU Peltier Institute for Advancement in Agricultural Technology to be established 

The NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources and College of Engineering are collaborating to establish the Peltier Institute for Advancement in Agricultural Technology, which builds upon the long-standing partnership between the two colleges and its department of agricultural and biosystems engineering. 

By combining excellence in research and teaching, the Peltier Institute will play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable agricultural future. 

It will be named in honor of Joe ’51 and Norma ’23 Peltier for their lifetime involvement and philanthropic investments in NDSU and was recently approved by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. 

The Peltier Institute will lead the development of innovative academic programs that will enhance the educational experience for students by introducing them to career opportunities at the intersections of agricultural production systems, engineering, data science and artificial intelligence. 

The Peltier Institute will increase opportunities for faculty to engage in interdisciplinary research, addressing societal needs to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production and food systems in the northern Great Plains. 

The primary research emphasis of the Peltier Institute will include: 

• Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to make transformational advancements in precision agriculture 

• Engineering robotic and autonomous systems to drive technical innovations  
  in agricultural production practices 

• Expanding capabilities in data science and analytics to bolster research and educational opportunities in emerging fields 

“The Peltier Institute will foster greater collaboration with industry to drive economic development and translate research results into solutions that can be integrated into current products and practices,” said Greg Lardy, Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture. 

Through NDSU Extension, the Peltier Institute will also provide outreach and training programs to stakeholders and constituents on topics related to agricultural technology. 

The two colleges will move forward in the coming months with an internal search for an endowed chair for precision agriculture, an external search for a professor of practice and scholarships for students entering NDSU in the fall of 2025.