Fargo, ND – Grand Farm today announced that Noel Anderson, Technical Advisor to Grand Farm, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) as part of its Class of 2026 – one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to engineers in the United States.
Anderson was recognized for invention, innovation leadership, and intellectual property strategy in autonomous systems and digital agriculture engineering. Election to the NAE honors engineers whose work has made lasting contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, and who have helped pioneer new technologies and approaches with real-world impact.
“Election to the National Academy of Engineering is the highest professional honor accorded to an engineer in the United States,” said NAE President Tsu-Jae Liu. “It recognizes engineers whose technical achievements and leadership have made a lasting impact.”
Anderson brings more than three decades of experience in advanced agricultural technology, including leadership roles at Concord Inc., Case Corporation (now CNH), and John Deere, where his work focused on precision agriculture, automation, and autonomy. He has also served on the electrical and electronics engineering faculty at North Dakota State University and continues to contribute to the field through writing, speaking, and consulting.
At Grand Farm, Anderson serves as Technical Advisor, helping guide technical strategy and operations for the Grand Farm Innovation Campus in Casselton, North Dakota. His work supports Grand Farm’s work to advance applied agricultural innovation by bringing together growers, startups, industry, researchers, and government partners.
“Dr. Noel Anderson is more than deserving of this honor. His contributions to advancing agriculture through invention are exceptional, and even more impressive is his long track record of sharing that passion by mentoring and cultivating the next generation of inventors and innovators,” said Dr. William Aderholdt, Executive Director and Cofounder of Grand Farm.
NAE members are elected by their peers through a rigorous, confidential process. Individuals elected to the Class of 2026 will be formally inducted at the NAE Annual Meeting later this year.
