{"id":173,"date":"2025-10-21T19:23:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T23:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/?page_id=173"},"modified":"2026-06-03T15:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T19:43:10","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/","title":{"rendered":"REFRAME"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Agricultural leftovers \u2014 biomass such as misshapen sweet potatoes or their discarded green tops \u2014 will soon get a new life in a new form. The four-year Resource Engineering Framework for Responsible, Augmented Modeling Engagement (REFRAME) project is developing a path a circular bioeconomy where biomass is repurposed to create new materials and buisiness opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funded by a grant from Schmidt Sciences, the modular, AI-enabled, open-source platform will analyze the potential to convert previously discarded biomass into biofuels or other bioproducts. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

REFRAME PIllars<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Legacy\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Legacy & Surrogate Modeling<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Led by Debjani Sihi, the Models pillars will identify legacy models in the supply chain that have been developed for years that are open source and that have been tackling one aspect of the supply chain \u2014 for example, agronomic models that analyze availability of biomass. This pillar will be critical in discovering how we can make connections between the models to increase efficiency in the pipeline of information.<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Digital\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Digtial Backbone<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Led by Cranos Williams, the Digital Backbone pillar will create a digital environment where we can store and have the computing capacity to be able to run a model multiple times so that we can create AI surrogates that are much faster. By creating simplified versions of these models that run faster, we have the potential to predict things that were not previously possible with the legacy models. The resulting pipeline of models will become accessible to anyone out there as an AI-enhanced, open-source platform. <\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Stakeholder\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Stakeholder Engagement<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Led by Joe Sagues, the Stakeholder Engagment platform works with industry stakeholders to receive vital perspectives for application of the REFRAME platform during its development and testing. The end goal is to have REFRAME used in research, policy and industry and extemded to external contributors.<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/svg>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n

NC\u00a0State\u2019s REFRAME Project Will Harness AI To Identify Business Opportunities in Crop Leftovers<\/h2>\n

NC\u00a0State University researchers will use a grant from Schmidt Sciences to develop an AI-enabled, open-source platform that can analyze the potential to convert agricultural leftovers \u2014 biomass such as misshapen sweet potatoes or their discarded green tops \u2014 into biofuels or other bioproducts, creating new business opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n

\n \n Learn more<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Reframe team<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Daniela\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Daniela Jones<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Principal Investigator<\/strong>
Assistant Professor
Bio\u00a0& Ag\u00a0Engineering, Agricultural Analytics Director, Data Sci. & AI Academy
North Carolina State University
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Debjani\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Debjani Sihi<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Legacy and Surrogate Model Lead<\/strong>
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"A\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Cranos Williams<\/strong><\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Digital Backbone Lead<\/strong>
Goodnight Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Analytics, Electrical and Computer Engineering
North Carolina State University
Digital Backbone Lead<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"a\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Joe Sagues<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Stakeholder Engagement Lead<\/strong>
Assistant Professor
Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"a\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Lauren Maynard<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Interdisciplinary Project Launch Director<\/span>
Office of Research and Innovation
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Sarah Harris<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

REFRAME Program Manager<\/strong>
North Carolina State University

<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Deepthi Nagareddy<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

REFRAME Full-Stack Developer<\/strong>
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"a\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Mahmoud Sharara<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Associate Professor and Extension Specialist<\/strong>
Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department;
Director, Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center (APWMC),
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Chris\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Chris Reberg-Horton<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Professor & Extension Organic Cropping Specialist<\/strong>
Crop and Soil Sciences
North Carolina State University
Platform Director of Resilient Agricultural Systems,
NC Plant Sciences Initiative,
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Jeremy\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Jeremy Guest<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Levenick Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and<\/strong>
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering<\/strong>
Director, Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy
Associate Director for Research, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, & Environment (iSEE)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Mariella\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Mariella Carbajal<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Postdoctoral Research<\/strong>
NC Plant Sciences Initiative
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
EnBiSys Research Laboratory
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Laura\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Laura Mora<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

PhD Student<\/strong>
Operations Research Program
North Carolina State University
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Graham\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Graham Louis<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

PhD Student<\/strong>
Crop & Soil Sciences Department
Global Change Fellow
SE Climate Adaptation Science Center
North Carolina State University
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Kecheng\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Kecheng Dai<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

PhD Student<\/strong>
IDEALS Lab
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Wenjun\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Wenjun Guo<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

PhD Student<\/strong>\u00a0
Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Brad\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Brad Lewis<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Program Manager, Ag Analytics Platform<\/strong>
Plant Science Initiative
North Carolina State University<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Jason\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Jason Jones<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Director of Economics, ICF<\/strong>
PhD \u2013 Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Bruce\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Bruce McCarl<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

University Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M<\/strong>
Ph.D. Management Science, Pennsylvania State University

<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Jason\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Jason Hales<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Computational Scientist<\/strong>
Idaho National Laboratory
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Keaton\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Keaton Flake<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Software Engineer<\/strong>
Idaho National Laboratory<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Damon\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Damon Hartley<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Senior Scientist and Deputy Relationship Manager to the Bioenergy Technologies Office<\/strong>
Idaho National Laboratory
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n

\n \n\n
\n
\n \"Tom\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Tom Richard<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Professor Emeritus of Biological Engineering<\/strong>
Penn State University
<\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/svg>\n\n <\/div>\n
\n

Connect with REFRAME<\/h2>\n

Get in touch to learn more or engagewith us.<\/p>\n \n

\n \n Email REFRAME<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

REFRAME is funded by Schmidt Sciences and is part of its Virtual Institute on Feedstocks of the Future (VIFF),<\/a> an initiative with a mission to support science, technology and engineering research focused on leveraging underused biomass as alternative feedstocks for biomanufacturing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Agricultural leftovers \u2014 biomass such as misshapen sweet potatoes or their discarded green tops \u2014 will soon get a new life in a new form. The four-year Resource Engineering Framework for Responsible, Augmented Modeling Engagement (REFRAME) project is developing a path a circular bioeconomy where biomass is repurposed to create new materials and buisiness opportunities.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/split-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"cta\":\"Get in touch\",\"ctaURL\":\"mailto%3Areframe-app%40ncsu.edu%20\",\"imageID\":595,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/04\/20260302_105917-scaled.jpg\",\"pageIntro\":\"Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Innovations for Resilient and Competitive Agricultural Systems<\/em>\",\"useCTA\":true,\"imageAlt\":\"REFRAME at Kickoff meeting\",\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.52,\"y\":0.76}}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-173","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":639,"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/173\/revisions\/639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/reframe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}