Agriculture is one of Alabama’s largest industries, and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is extending its impact beyond Huntsville with a strong presence in the Dothan and Wiregrass region. In partnership with the City of Dothan, HudsonAlpha Wiregrass is advancing agricultural technology to build upon the area’s rich farming tradition and economic foundation.

A Region Poised for AgTech Expansion

A recently released report has identified several tangible advantages unique to the Wiregrass region that can enhance and expand innovation and entrepreneurial growth of the region’s agricultural technology (agtech) base.

Sentinel Ag: Innovation Returning Home

One such agtech company, Sentinel Ag—founded by Dothan native Jack Stansell—recently relocated part of its operations to the region, bringing innovation closer to home and family.

“HudsonAlpha was there to provide support for getting our business’s feet underneath us in the (Alabama) Wiregrass area,” he said.

Stansell went to college at Harvard and later moved to Nebraska for graduate school, where he also developed solutions to help farmers with crop improvement. He called HudsonAlpha’s support “critical” to his new endeavor.

Building the Future: The Wiregrass Innovation Center

A key piece of the HudsonAlpha Wiregrass partnership with the City of Dothan is the new Wiregrass Innovation Center. This 45,000-square-foot facility will offer:

• hands-on training
• real-world learning in science, genomics, research, and technology
• a dynamic ecosystem for entrepreneurs and agtech companies like Sentinel Ag

Backed by funding from the State of Alabama, the Wiregrass Foundation, and the City of Dothan, the facility broke ground earlier this year and is set to open in 2026.

The Nitrogen Challenge: A Farmer’s Balancing Act

Nitrogen use in farming – the subject of Stansell’s work – is well known as both helpful and environmentally challenging. On the helpful side, it has been a key nutrient for boosting yield and quality for plants that cannot normally absorb enough nitrogen from the atmosphere to meet their planters’ goals.

“About 47 million acres of cereal grains in the United States…are receiving nitrogen treatments every year after planting,” Stansell said. That doesn’t count cotton, potatoes, and other crops also getting nitrogen. “That’s huge acreage.”

But nitrogen’s downsides are increasingly visible. “It doesn’t help our fishermen in the Gulf… It doesn’t help those who are drinking groundwater. It doesn’t help anyone wanting to do outdoor recreation.”

Still, Stansell said nitrogen is essential if “effectively utilized in plants.”

Sentinel Ag’s Solution: Precision, Timing, and Stewardship

“What we provide is software called ‘In Time’ that leverages satellite imagery and other data to help agronomists and farmers master their nitrogen application timing and reach,” Stansell said.

The goal is balanced chemical use.

“We help farmers with their bottom line and also assist with environmental stewardship and making sure we’re not losing nitrogen to the atmosphere as much as possible.”

Data like this can help farms make the best and safest use of chemicals like nitrogen. But it’s not a challenge traditionally associated with a genetic research center such as HudsonAlpha.

Still, Stansell said HudsonAlpha helped get their business established in the Wiregrass area — support he won’t forget.

From Wiregrass to the World

When the Innovation Center opens its doors next year, companies like Sentinel Ag will be at the forefront of transforming agriculture—driving innovation from the Wiregrass to the World.

Learn More About HudsonAlpha’s Work in AgTech

To explore HudsonAlpha’s agricultural research, regional initiatives, and opportunities for partnership in the Wiregrass, visit HudsonAlpha.org/Wiregrass.