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
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Duration: 1:02:04
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On this 420 Bonus show, we share an episode of one of our favorite podcasts, Rumble Strip. It's made by Erica Heilman who tells stories of rural Vermont. On this episode she interviews Vermonter John Rodgers, a stonemaso…