LCC Looks to Expand Biotech, Economy
Michael Abernethy, Staff Writer
© The Free Press

Growing the biotechnology program at Lenoir Community College could grow jobs and wealth in an area where agriculture has deep roots, economy developers and college officials agreed Wednesday.

“Biotechnology is really the future of Lenoir County,” Lisa Boyd, LCC biotechnology coordinator and biology instructor, said. “Agriculture is the way to go. This could revitalize us. If people are educated, the businesses will come here. I believe that.”

Boyd is working to expand the school’s program to include a two-year associate degree in agriculture biotechnology. The degree could eventually lead to a 2+2 partnership with East Carolina University.

Boyd and other college staff met with area economic developers, educators and members of the state’s BioNetwork on Wednesday to help determine the courses needed for the degree program.

Mark Pope, Lenoir County economic development director, said there is a strong need for an agriculture biotechnology program in and around Lenoir County.

“Already there’s biodiesel, ethanol, and DuPont’s Serona is a corn starch,” Pope said after the meeting. “There is a need for that program and the need will probably increase down the road. We need to prepare for the need here and draw people from other communities to educate them.”

At the meeting, J.D. Brooks, with the BioNetwork’s BioAg Center, said the program should concentrate on crop production and protection, weed science and entomology, areas of study that would help local farmers.

“There’s a strong need for people by the industry in that area now,” Brooks said. “There‘s a need for crop scouts and with distributors of seeds, chemicals, and equipment. They need people who are knowledgeable with current techniques. And they need people with skills now.”

North Carolina is already No. 3 in the nation for biotechnology education and industry, Boyd said. An agriculture biotechnology program would give students knowledge of cutting-edge techniques for cultivating and protecting crops using genetic engineering and advanced herbicides and pesticides.

For instance, agriculture biotechnology graduates could work with tobacco farmers to create a breed of tobacco plant resistant to the tobacco worm, with corn farmers to eliminate competition from weeds, and continue to make cotton crops resistant to pests and weeds.

Those needs would continue to grow as new technologies became available. By providing a knowledgeable workforce, LCC is setting the area up for economic growth, Brooks said.

“You must have a workforce that is educated and wants to be involved,” Brooks said. “I applaud LCC because they see that and want to do something about it.”

Before the program could be offered in 2006-2007, it would have to be approved by the North Carolina Community College System.

The LCC faculty will meet with other community colleges in the state to discuss the program on May 1. The college must have its course work and concentration completed by May 31 to be approved by the state for a fall 2006 introduction of the program.

Michael Abernethy can be reached at (252) 527-3191, Ext. 232, or at mabernethy@freedomenc.com.