Category: Agribusiness

A New Approach to Propagating the “World’s Most Valuable” Spice

by Eva Sailly
March 13, 2026

Often referred to as the most expensive spice in the world, saffron has been prized for thousands of years for its vibrant color, distinctive flavor, and aromatic compounds. Extracted from the red stigmas of the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus, ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Bioreactor, Controlled-environment Production Systems, Cryopreservation, Environmental Horticulture, Food Is Medicine, Horticultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences Department, Micropropagation, Plant Science, Saffron, Vendrame Lab, Wagner Vendrame

Breeding Broccoli for Nutrition in a Warming World

by Eva Sailly
February 19, 2026

Broccoli is the classic example of a “healthy food”. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, it is linked to a lowered risk of chronic disease. However, as primarily a cool-season crop, broccoli is difficult to cultivate in warmer ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: AI, AI In Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence, Broccoli, Climate, Dr. Charlie Messina, Food Is Medicine, Horticultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences Department, Melanie Cabrera, New Publication, Nutrition, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, The Crop Transformation Center

Alumni Spotlight: Connecting Communities Back to Agriculture

by Eva Sailly
February 11, 2026

Extension From Day One Madelyn Greathouse is the UF/IFAS Extension Commercial Horticulture and Integrated Pest Management Agent serving Sumter and Pasco counties. She works with a wide range of growers, from blueberry and ornamental producers ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Alumni, Alumni Feature, Blueberry, Cade, Gerardo Nunez, Greathouse, Horticultural Sciences Department, Pasco County, Plant Science, Plant Science Major, St, Sumner County, UF IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS CALS, Undergraduate

How AI Is Changing Plant Breeding: Redefining the Limits of Sorghum

by Eva Sailly
February 6, 2026

For decades, sorghum has quietly disappeared from US fields. Once grown across much of the country, the drought-tolerant grain is now concentrated primarily in the southern Great Plains, especially Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Since the ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture
Tags: #aiatuf, AI, AI In Agriculture, Alumni, Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Charlie Messina, Dr. Jasdeep Singh, Horticultural Sciences Department, New Publication, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, The Crop Transformation Center

Brewing Innovation: Developing Coffee as a Viable Florida Crop

by Eva Sailly
January 22, 2026

How UF/IFAS Is Reimagining Coffee for Florida Can coffee be reimagined as a viable crop for Florida growers? It is a seemingly simple question posed by UF/IFAS researchers, as Florida agriculture searches for resilient, high-value ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agro-Tourism, Blueberry Breeding And Genomics, Coffee, Dr. Ferrao, Felipe Ferrao, Food Science, Fruit Crops, Horticultural Sciences, Neta Foundation, Plant Breeding

UF/IFAS Growing Market Opportunities for Florida Persimmons

by Eva Sailly
November 19, 2025

As Florida growers look for profitable alternatives that can compete with California and other global markets, persimmons are emerging as a strong option for those seeking reliable yields, consumer appeal, and steadily increasing potential. ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dr. Muhammad Adnan Shahid, Extension, Field Day, Fruit Crops, Horticultural Sciences, NFREC, NFREC Fruit Physiology Lab, Persimmon Field Day, Persimmons, Quincy, Stress Physiology

Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars

by Eva Sailly
October 15, 2025

Dr. Ashley DuVal, an alumna of UF/IFAS with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, has built a career devoted to ensuring that chocolate has a sustainable future. Now a Senior Scientist and cacao breeder with Mars Wrigley, Dr. DuVal works ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni Feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching

Dr. Jeffrey Brecht Retires After 40 Years in Postharvest

by Eva Sailly
September 16, 2025

When Dr. Jeffrey Brecht arrived at the University of Florida in 1984, fresh out of graduate school, he stepped into what would become his lifelong career. What began as a first job turned into four decades of research that advanced postharvest ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Dr. Jeffrey Brecht, Horticultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences Department, Mango, Postharvest And Handling, Tomato

Disease–Resistant Vinifera Grapes Signal New Era for Florida Wine

by Eva Sailly
September 10, 2025

In a milestone for Florida agriculture, researchers in the University of Florida’s UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences have successfully grown and harvested Pierce Disease–resistant winegrape varieties. The effort, led ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Dr. Ali Sarkhosh, Food Trend, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Breeding, UF Fruit Crop Lab, Wine

Dr. Paul M. Lyrene’s Legacy of Science and Stewardship – and the UF Facilities Named in His Honor

by Eva Sailly
August 20, 2025

I met Dr. Paul M. Lyrene, University of Florida Emeritus Professor of Horticultural Sciences, at the Alachua Conservation Trust’s (ACT) Prairie Creek property, where he had invited me to see its native wildlife garden. In 2022, Lyrene installed ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Horticulture
Tags: Blueberry, Blueberry Research Building, Horticultural Sciences, Lyrene, Paul M. Lyrene, Plant Breeding

Subscribe For More Great Content