From Soil to Sensors: Explore Gig East’s Source Showcase

By Shappelle Marshall

Gig East’s inaugural Source Showcase offers a firsthand look at how technology and collaboration are transforming farming in Eastern North Carolina.

Eastern North Carolina’s growers, innovators, and educators will have a new opportunity to connect this spring, on May 28, at the inaugural Gig East Source Showcase and Ribbon Cutting in Wilson, North Carolina.

Hosted by Gig East, the event introduces The Source, an agriculture testbed designed to bring together farming and technology in a practical, hands-on setting. The showcase offers a look at the work underway as new tools and partnerships take shape across the region.

For organizers, the event is as much about storytelling as it is about demonstration.

“We wanted to create something that really shows what’s happening at The Source,” said Emily Wells, Community and Engagement Manager for Greenlight Community Broadband and Gig East. “It’s a chance for people to see the projects, the data, and the innovation and understand what this space is built for.”

The Source was developed to connect local growers with technology developers and students, giving each group a role in testing and refining new ideas. Wells describes it as part of a broader ecosystem built on Wilson’s community-owned broadband infrastructure, designed to support entrepreneurship and economic growth across eastern North Carolina.

At its core, The Source is a working site. Growers can experiment with new crops or techniques, while developers can test tools in real conditions rather than controlled environments. Students, from high school through college, are able to engage directly with projects and research that extend beyond the classroom.

The showcase itself will begin at the Eagles Center at Wilson Community College, where speakers will introduce the site and share updates on its development. The program will feature a series of short, conversational presentations from pilot participants and student teams. Organizers expect the format to feel accessible and interactive, with time for questions and discussion throughout.

Later in the day, attendees will travel to The Source site for the official ribbon cutting and a guided tour of the facility. There, visitors will be able to walk through greenhouses and high tunnels, view active pilot projects, and speak directly with the people behind them.

Those projects reflect a range of emerging technologies already being tested on site. According to Greg Dunko, director of strategy at RIoT Labs, the work underway is beginning to show what’s possible when agriculture and data systems intersect.

“We’re starting to see real pilot trials take shape,” Dunko said. “This is our first chance to hear directly from growers, entrepreneurs, and educators who are using the space and to get a sense of what’s actually possible here.”

Current and upcoming pilots include systems that monitor soil moisture and automate irrigation, as well as platforms that track temperature and environmental conditions in real time. One project involves a wearable plant sensor that can detect stress signals through airborne compounds, offering growers earlier insight into crop health.

Dunko emphasized that the goal is not just to test technology, but to make it useful and accessible.

“The purpose is to support growers and entrepreneurs,” he said. “We want to provide a place where people can try something new, learn from it, and decide if it works before taking it further.”

Some of the most intriguing work at the site explores crops not traditionally associated with the region. Early trials, including one focused on matcha, point to the possibility of diversifying production while building on existing agricultural knowledge.

Beyond individual projects, organizers see the showcase as a way to expand awareness of what The Source can offer.

“We’re really trying to grow that awareness beyond Wilson,” Dunko said. “This is something that should benefit all of eastern North Carolina.”

Wells hopes attendees leave with a clearer understanding of both the site and their own role in it. “I want people to feel informed, inspired, and excited,” she said. “There’s so much happening here, and it’s right in front of them.”

The event is open to growers interested in new techniques, developers looking for real-world testing environments, and educators seeking hands-on learning opportunities for students. Organizers will also share information about upcoming pilot opportunities, including grant-supported projects for those ready to bring new ideas to the field.

More information about the showcase, including registration details, is available on the official event page: https://events.humanitix.com/gigeastsourceshowcase2026.