Graduate students at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) are helping solve some of the state’s most urgent issues from developing heat and pest-resilient crops, to advancing sustainable farming systems and protecting fragile ecosystems. But funding for advanced study is becoming increasingly scarce, threatening the pipeline of future agricultural scientists and leaders.
That’s why this year’s One Night in the Tropics event will launch Challenge 180, a fundraising initiative to raise $180,000 by 2026 to fully fund one Ph.D. student for four years. This includes tuition and a living stipend, ensuring our students can dedicate themselves fully to their research and academic development.
When: Nov. 1, from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Where: UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center 18905 SW 280 Street, Homestead
Cost: Tickets are on sale now. Register by Oct. 31 to receive $20 off of the regular ticket price. The regular price at the door on the day of the event is $185.
What to Expect:
The 11th Annual One Night in the Tropics is more than a festive evening of food, music and community. It is a call to invest in the future generation of agricultural leaders in South Florida. It brings together residents, local legislators, growers, TREC scientists and students for a transformative initiative and to celebrate our farmers.
“Challenge 180 is more than a scholarship, it’s an investment in innovation, leadership, food security and environmental resilience,” said Edward “Gilly” Evans, director of UF/IFAS TREC. “Every dollar raised helps us attract and retain the brightest minds, whose research ensures South Florida’s farms remain competitive and our meals secure.”
Established in 1929, UF/IFAS TREC is the only state university research and education center in the continental United States dedicated to tropical and subtropical crops. Its faculty, scientists and students conduct cutting-edge research and share findings with the public in fields ranging from crop breeding, biotechnology, and soil and water management to invasive pest and disease control, climate resilience, environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture. Strategically located between Florida Bay and Everglades National Park, the center serves not only South Florida and the Caribbean, Latin America and tropical regions around the world—making its work globally significant.
The One Night in the Tropics celebration is also the official kickoff to Miami-Dade Farmers Month, a countywide observance held every November that honors the region’s rich agricultural heritage and vibrant farming community. Organized by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and supported by local leaders such as County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, and sponsors including Railroad Nursery at the Diamond Level, the monthlong celebration highlights:
- The diverse farms and family-owned agricultural businesses of South Dade.
- The region’s contributions to the local economy and sustainable farming.
- Opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with the farm-to-table lifestyle.
This year’s One Night in the Tropics carries added meaning with the completion of the Pauline O. Lawrence Student Residence, a new dormitory officially opening earlier that day.
“The residence represents a new chapter in TREC’s commitment to student success, creating more opportunities for scholars who will carry forward the mission of advancing agriculture and protecting natural resources,” said Evans.
Guests can expect an unforgettable evening filled with delicious food, live music by a seven-piece band for dancing and meaningful community engagement, all in honor of the hardworking farmers who nourish the region and the students preparing to carry that legacy forward.
Tickets are on sale now. Register by Oct. 31 to receive $20 off of the regular ticket price. The regular price at the door on the day of the event is $185.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
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By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
ABOUT UF/IFAS TROPICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
The mission of UF/IFAS Tropical Research & Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC) is to develop and disseminate science-based information about tropical horticulture and natural resource sciences through teaching, basic and applied research, and extension, to sustain and enhance the quality of human life and the natural environment. Established in 1929, UF/IFAS TREC is the only state university research and education center in the continental U.S. focusing on tropical and subtropical crops. Our faculty, support scientists, and students conduct cutting edge research and disseminate findings to the public in areas such as crop and plant breeding and biotechnology, sea level rise, soil and water management, environmental conservation, climate change, invasive plant pests and disease management, agriculture and ecosystems sustainability, and much more. The Center’s unique location—between Florida Bay and Everglades National Park—strategically situates research to the Caribbean region, Latin America, and tropical regions around the world.
trec.ifas.ufl.edu | @UFTropical | #IFASTREC
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