Category: SFYL Hot Topic

Pandemic eating among the food-secure: more comfort foods, but not a drastic increase

by Brad Buck
May 12, 2026

During the first three months of the pandemic, food-secure people did not change their eating habits very much, although some of them turned a bit more to comfort foods, new University of Florida research shows. The study also serves as a cautionary ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Comfort Food, Covid-19, Eating, Food Science And Human Nutrition, Food-secure, Jeanette Andrade, Nutrition, Pandemic, Salt, Snacks, Stress, Sugar

UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp virtual workshop available Jan. 11

by Samantha Murray
May 12, 2026

The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Program is launching a virtual workshop with research and program updates, available online beginning January 11 for $40. The workshop consists of a collection of pre-recorded lectures and prepared documents ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Agronomy, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hemp, Industrial Hemp, Industrial Hemp Research Project, Johan Desaeger, Luke Flory, Mid-Florida Research And Education Center, Tropical Research And Education Center, Virtual Workshop, Workshop, Zack Brym

Global gardeners help UF tomato breeding program; will send growth, flavor data to lab

by Samantha Murray
May 12, 2026

Normally, University of Florida scientists such as Harry Klee gauge the taste and aroma of their new tomatoes by letting volunteers test them at the UF Sensory Lab in Gainesville. But now, people from across the globe who grow tomatoes in their ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Amateur Plant Breeders, Citizen Science, Data, Gardeners, Harry Klee, Production, Seeds, Taste, Tomatoes, UF/IFAS Advancement, Varieties

Global group recognizes UF/IFAS engineer for strawberry spray app

by Brad Buck
May 12, 2026

Now that we’re knee-deep in strawberry season, many growers owe Clyde Fraisse and Natalia Peres a debt of gratitude. About a decade ago, Peres saw a need for a fungicide decision-support tool. Farmers sprayed about every week to control strawberry ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Alerts, App, Award, Clyde Fraisse, Decision-support Tool, Fungi, Fungicide, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Natalia Peres, Plant Pathology, Strawberries, Strawberry Advisory System, World Meteorological Organization

UF/IFAS hosts virtual Urban Landscape Summit, starting January 20

by Brad Buck
May 12, 2026

WHO: Faculty and administrators from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), along with landscape industry professionals. WHAT: Scott Angle, UF vice president for agriculture and natural resources ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Birds, Fertilizers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Scott Angle, Stormwater, Turf, Urban Landscape Summit, Water

UF scientist finds way to reduce greenhouse gas in soil

by Brad Buck
May 12, 2026

When soil gets saturated with water, the ground can produce nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that depletes the ozone, the layer that protects plants and animals on Earth from harmful ultraviolet light. For context, nitrous oxide is 310 times ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Farm Management, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: David Liu, Emissions, Farms, Fertilizer, Greenhouse Gas, Horticultural Sciences, Irrigation, Nitrous Oxide, Ozone, Rain, Reduce, Soil

UF scientists study how to breed faster-growing plants

by Samantha Murray
May 12, 2026

LAKE ALFRED, Fla. – In order to improve photosynthesis in plant leaves, two University of Florida scientists will study their roots and stems. More specifically, Christopher Vincent and Fred Gmitter hope to find the optimal relationship ... READ MORE

Category: SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Carbohydrates, Christopher Vincent, Citrus, Citrus Research, Citrus Research And Education Center, Fred Gmitter, Grant, Leaf Growth, Nifa, Nutrients, Photosynthesis, Plant Leaves, Plants, USDA, Water

Barn owl conservation efforts in South Florida — a soaring success for species, growers, environment

by Kristie Popa
May 12, 2026

Rodents are responsible for millions of dollars in damage to crops and farm equipment each year. Through the University of Florida Barn Owl Project in the Everglades Agricultural Area, a beneficial relationship has quietly thrived for ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Barn Owls, Everglades Agriculture Area, Plant Pathology, Richard Raid, UF IFAS Everglades Research And Education Center

USDA Grant To Enhance UF/IFAS Vanilla Research, Promote Domestic Industry

by Lourdes Mederos
May 12, 2026

Whether its cakes or candles, cough drops or cleaning solutions, vanilla is one of the most sought-after and widely used flavoring and aromatic agents applied across industries. As domestic companies pledge to remove artificial vanilla ... READ MORE

Category: Crops, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alan Chambers, Sustainable Agriculture, Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS Plant Breeding, UF/IFAS Solutions, UF/IFAS Tropical Research And Education Center, UF/IFAS Varieties, USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research And Education, USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research And Extension Initiative, Vanilla, Vanilla At TREC

In the heart of Florida’s strawberry season, an expert explains why they’re so wonderful

by Brad Buck
May 12, 2026

When you think of February, you might dream of a Happy Valentine’s Day, roses and romance. If you live in central Florida, you might also want to buy the very best strawberries. Many local fields are rife with the red fruit. Wael Elwakil, ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Breeding, Economic Impact, Featured, Fruit And Vegetable Production, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Harvest, Hillsborough County, Special Topics, Strawberries, Strawberry Season, Taste, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, Valentine's Day, Wael Elwakil

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