Dr. Harmandeep Sharma, an Indian-origin research assistant professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been awarded the 2025 Community Uplift Award by SAS, a global leader in analytics and artificial intelligence.
The award was presented during the SAS Innovate Conference held last week in Orlando.
The Community Uplift Award honors individuals who have made a significant social impact using SAS technologies.
Sharma was selected from among global SAS users for her innovative application of data science in advancing sustainable and equitable farming practices.
Driving Precision Agriculture with AI and Analytics
Dr. Sharma, who serves in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, is transforming small-scale farming by integrating real-time data from drones and soil sensors to develop predictive models.
These models help optimize critical agricultural processes such as irrigation, fertilization, and crop health monitoring.
Her work enables farmers to adopt precision agriculture, leading to improved yields, reduced waste, and long-term sustainability, particularly vital for smallholder and resource-limited farmers.
“This initiative has been transformative, not just for me, but for our College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, our faculty and especially our students,” said Sharma.
“SAS has a clear commitment to ensuring our students are equipped with the skills needed to lead in data analytics and artificial intelligence within the agricultural sector.”
Championing Equity in Agriculture
Beyond technological innovation, Sharma’s work also addresses social justice in farming. Using SAS analytics tools, her team generates microdata to identify gender and racial disparities among small-scale farmers.
These insights are used to inform public policy and support systems, all while upholding strict data privacy standards.
This approach not only enhances visibility for marginalized communities but also helps direct resources where they are most needed, empowering underrepresented farmers to succeed in a data-driven agricultural economy.
From SAS and Industry Leaders
John Gottula, Principal Advisor for AI and Biostatistics at SAS, commended Sharma’s leadership:
“She is bringing her deep subject-matter expertise in horticulture and crop science to bear, while also building a new skill set in artificial intelligence. And she’s taking others on that learning journey with her. That’s truly a measure of good leadership.”
Bridging Academia and Industry
As a 2024 SAS HBCU+ Fellow, Dr. Sharma is also focused on preparing students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for real-world impact.
She has emphasized the importance of partnerships between industry and academia.
“Our students are working with a wide range of data,” she said. “If companies have internship opportunities, we have talented students ready to contribute.”
A Model for Tech-Driven Social Impact
Dr. Harmandeep Sharma’s work exemplifies how data science can serve both innovation and inclusion.
Through her use of analytics to address agricultural and social challenges, she has created a replicable model for how universities, industry leaders, and communities can work together for lasting change.
