Inside Cornell AgriTech: Germplasm, Robots and Hemp

Inside Cornell AgriTech: Germplasm, Robots and Hemp

Author: Eric Hurlock, Digital Editor September 26, 2025 Duration: 43:36

On this week's podcast, we continue our trip to Geneva, New York, for part two of the Cornell story. I spend some time with Christine Smart, director of Cornell AgriTech, and her husband Larry Smart, professor of plant breeding and genetics and head of Cornell's hemp program.

Christine takes me through the history of the Agritech campus — from its 1882 founding to its living plant libraries and cutting-edge robotics labs. We talk Liberty Hyde Bailey, the USDA germplasm repository, and a future where UV light replaces pesticides and robots roam the fields.

Then Larry brings us inside Cornell's hemp research: from gene editing for disease resistance to the painstaking process of seed multiplication. He shares his work on a CBG-only hemp line with zero THC and CBD, designed to open animal feed markets, and explains why F1 hybrids could unlock hemp's yield potential the same way they did for corn.

And stay tuned, because next week in part three we'll hear from two of the rising stars in Cornell's hemp program — PhD students Jane Hamilton and Luis Monserrate.

Learn More

Cornell University – Hemp Program

https://hemp.cals.cornell.edu

Cornell AgriTech

https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-agritech

USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository

https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/geneva-ny/plant-genetic-resources-unit-pgru/

Yu Jiang Lab – Agricultural Robotics & Sensing

https://cals.cornell.edu/yu-jiang

Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum

https://www.libertyhydebailey.org

News Nuggets, from HempToday

Emergency rules take effect in Texas, restricting hemp intoxicant sales to adults over 21

https://hemptoday.net/emergency-rules-take-effect-in-texas-restricting-hemp-intoxicant-sales-to-adults-over-21/

French co-op, leading European supplier of hemp planting seed, has a new director

https://hemptoday.net/french-co-op-leading-european-supplier-of-hemp-planting-seed-has-a-new-director/

Kazakh government backs China deal as foreign investors eye neighbor's hemp sector

https://hemptoday.net/kazakh-government-backs-china-deal-as-foreign-investors-eye-neighbors-hemp-sector/

Thanks to our Sponsors

Kings AgriSeeds

https://www.kingsagriseeds.com

IND HEMP

https://indhemp.com


There’s a quiet revolution happening in fields and factories, and it’s centered on a single, versatile plant. Industrial Hemp Podcast, guided by Eric Hurlock, the Digital Editor at Lancaster Farming, moves beyond the headlines to explore what’s actually happening on the ground. This isn’t just theoretical discussion; it’s a direct line to the people driving the industry forward. Each episode features conversations with the farmers who are planting and harvesting these crops, facing very real agronomic challenges and opportunities. You’ll also hear from researchers, processors, and policy experts who are shaping the future of hemp for fiber, grain, and other industrial applications. The dialogue digs into the practicalities-from planting techniques and harvesting equipment to market trends, regulatory hurdles, and technological innovations that are changing the game. It’s a clear-eyed look at an agricultural sector finding its footing, reported by journalists with deep roots in farming communities. For anyone curious about the business, science, and sheer hard work behind industrial hemp, this podcast serves as an essential, grounded resource. Tune in for honest talk that cuts through the hype and gets to the root of this growing field.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Industrial Hemp Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Inside The NIHC Global Hemp Fiber Summit With Guy Carpenter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
The hemp event of the summer is taking place in Raleigh, North Carolina, July 15-17. It's the Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit, hosted by the Wilson College of Textiles, in conjunction with the National Industrial Hem…
The Hemp Show in Three Acts: A Café, a Workshop and a Reckoning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:12
This week's episode of the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast unfolds in three acts, each exploring a different facet of the growing hemp industry — from a café built on hemp-based food, to a hands-on construction…
Untangling The Language: What We Mean When We Say Hemp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:51
This week on the Lancaster Farming Industrial Hemp Podcast, host Eric Hurlock wrestles with a question at the heart of the industry: What is hemp? The term has become increasingly diluted and controversial — especially i…
Special Edition: Musical Teaser in Exchange for Your Patience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:46
This week's episode is a little different—just a quick teaser while we finish up next week's show, which dives into the meaning of the word "hemp" and who gets to claim it. Host Eric Hurlock has been on a journey talking…
Unlocking the USDA Hemp Report - A Tale of Two Industries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:13
This week on the Hemp Podcast we're looking at the 2025 Hemp Report from the USDA. The annual report attempts to provide a snapshot of the hemp industry, which, according to the report, is valued at $445 million — up 40%…
Non-Wovens and the Goodness of Hemp with Hempitecture's Mattie Mead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:01
They say hemp has 25,000 uses — but today, we're focusing on just one: nonwovens. In this episode, Eric and Sophia dive into a hidden-yet-ubiquitous part of our daily lives with guest Mattie Mead from Hempitecture. From…
Navigating Uncertainty and Innovation in Hemp with Steve Groff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:40
In this episode, regenerative industrial hemp farmer Steve Groff returns for a candid discussion about the current state of hemp farming, innovation and industry challenges in Pennsylvania. Groff shares insights on the u…