Category: Natural Resources

Melanie Cabrera sits in a field of broccoli using a ruler to measure the crown.

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
Display of buttons that depict the ghost orchid with "Orchid Conservation Chelusea Show" is shown on the outside of the pin's design.

From Florida’s Wetlands to the Chelsea Flower Show: Behind UF/IFAS Ghost Orchid Conservation

by Eva Sailly
February 10, 2026

Leafless and ephemeral, the ghost orchid seems to float in the shadows of South Florida’s wetlands. They’re a mystery that has fueled books, films, and decades of fascination. But behind the mystique is a far more complicated reality. ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Conservation, Forests, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Water
Tags: Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Chelsea Flower Show, Conservation, Environmental Horticulture, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Germinate, Ghost Orchid, Horticultural Sciences Department, Michael Kane, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Restoration And Plant Ecology
Cacao pods on tree.

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
a 3-panel look at various native Florida berries

From Foraging to Farming: Florida’s Feral Fruity Flora

by Shane Teachworth
July 23, 2025

Introduction I am fascinated by the origins of our food. It’s a little absurd to imagine our distant progenitors, searching for food by trying every random plant and mushroom. It's harder still to imagine the investment across generations ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Recreation
Tags: Beautyberry, Blueberry, Elderberry, Foraging
triptych photo of three different varieties of hyperaccumulator flowers growing in Dr. Kim's lab

Phytomining: Growing a U.S. Solution to the Nickel Supply Crisis

by Eva Sailly
April 16, 2025

Dr. Jeongim Kim, associate professor and head of the Biochemical Genetics Lab for the Horticultural Sciences Department, is leading a new project providing an alternative solution to the United States’ growing demand for nickel, a pressing ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: ARPA-E, Biochemical Genetics, Biodiversity, Dr. Jeongim Kim, Horticultural Sciences, Hyperaccumulator, Nickel, Nickel Farming, Phytomining, Plant Breeding, Student, Teaching, The Department Of Energy

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories