AFE’s Newest Research Coordinator, Laura Barth

Among the five focus pillars of AFE is the important branch of research. This area guides the industry’s current practices to new heights in sustainability, improved methods, and revolutionary discoveries. To help facilitate this mission, AFE has expanded our team to include Laura Barth – AFE’s Research Coordinator.Research is a continuous top priority for AFE’s funding. Research helps AFE provide the best and most current information and solutions to pressing issues in the industry. Laura will work alongside Dr. Terril Nell, AFE’s current Research Director of 8 years, to pursue and disseminate this information through industry outreach and collaboration, communications, and other critical resources like our Grow Pro Webinar Series, Thrips & Botrytis Research Fund, and other currently funded research.Dr.…

The AFE Career Center: Building Floriculture Careers One Resume at a Time

Did you know that uploading your resume to an online posting website can increase your chances of getting noticed by prospective employers? Suppose you’re deciding on a career path, searching for a job, or hoping to improve your professional skills. In that case, the AFE Career Center is the one-stop location for posting resumes and finding exciting career paths in the floriculture and horticulture industries.For students and individuals beginning their job search, the AFE Career Center is positioned strategically to help those seeking employment understand the many opportunities that await them with a satisfying career in the floral industry. Because companies recognize AFE as a source for young professional development, they utilize the AFE Career Center as the go-to place…

Biocontrol of Whiteflies in Poinsettia: What Works and Why Do It

Unfortunately, poinsettia and sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) go together like cats and fleas; if you have one, you’ll have the other. By this time (June) you should already be considering your whitefly management strategy. Here, we make a case for biocontrol as both a viable and economical way to control whitefly based on leading research supported by the American Floral Endowment (AFE) and many years of grower experience in Canada. The Problem with Pesticides Management of Bemisia whiteflies with pesticides can be difficult, if not impossible, in some years. This is because whiteflies that originate on cuttings (and those that fly in from field crops, as in the Southern US) have likely been exposed to multiple applications of several…

2022-2023 Funded Research Projects

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) strives to aid in the ongoing success of our industry through supporting impactful research which faces current challenges and provides new advances. For over 60 years now, AFE has been the ‘go-to’ source for funding research projects and communicating the results, along with the researchers, to the floral industry. In 2022-2023, AFE will support 15 research projects in total. With 5 new research projects and 10 continuing projects totaling over $500,000 in funding from the Endowment, Gus Poesch Research Fund, and the Thrips & Botrytis Research Fund. These projects range in focus including plant breeding, disease and insect management, post-production, and production technology/protocols. “This research continues AFE’s mission of addressing industry challenges and acting as the catalyst for…

2022 Paul Ecke, Jr. & Altman Family Scholarship Recipients

Shaping the Future of the Industry The graduate work of this year’s Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family Scholarship recipients is already reshaping the floriculture and horticulture industry with improvements for growers and environmental benefits. Congratulations to the 2022 Recipients! These five outstanding scholars – each with resumes listing numerous accomplishments in fieldwork, academic presentations, and published research – have contributed to the growing scientific understanding of the industry. Equally important, they have used their nascent platforms to share knowledge with growers, ensuring that positive change is swiftly implemented. All have a dedicated love for plants and flowers that was instilled in them from an early age. All have a deep curiosity for the science that can be harnessed to…

Accepting Research Proposals Through August 1

Calling all Researchers! We are now accepting new research proposals for the 2023-2024 funding cycle. The application deadline is August 1, 2022. Apply Today Funding innovative research is a critical pillar of our mission to be the trusted source and catalyst for floriculture advancement. New research proposals should support forward-thinking exploration of cost and labor savings, pest and disease management, reduced waste, and other solutions to promote healthier, longer-lasting flowers and plants. A detailed list of our research priorities is below. In 2022, our Research Application was condensed and updated to include industry references that support the research project. Get helpful tips on how to submit a strong proposal from AFE’s Research Coordinator, Dr. Terril Nell, in the video below. We…

Thrips & Botrytis Webinars and Key Takeaways

New Thrips & Botrytis research and resources to keep your flowers and plants happy and healthy! AFE is pleased to share webinar recordings and one-page key takeaways highlighting new research findings from our specially-funded Thrips and Botrytis Research Fund.Initially presented exclusively to our Thrips and Botrytis Fund supporters, these recorded webinars and key takeaways are now released to the industry in both English and Spanish. Take advantage of these FREE resources to help with your pest and disease management!Throughout these webinars and through the one-page summaries, you will learn the best practices for managing and controlling thrips and botrytis, understand why decisions are made, and how to make the best management decisions for your greenhouse. Our featured topics also include…

Discount Available: 2022 Greenhouse Training Online

AFE is a proud sponsor of the following 4-week award-winning certificate courses from UF/IFAS Extension.Train yourself or your current employees with the University of Florida IFAS Extension’s online program. All Greenhouse Training Online courses are taught in both English and Spanish. Click here to view the program flyer in both languages.The first course of the year, Greenhouse 101, starts on May 30, 2022.Each course is completely online and includes pre-recorded videos, an interactive discussion board with Ph.D. professors, supporting educational material, and quizzes. The course material is available any time of the day, and two new modules are activated each week during the course for the four weeks of each course, for a total of 8 learning modules. Experienced university…

AFE Application Deadlines Calendar

Mark your calendars! Deadlines for our scholarship, internship, research proposal, and educational grant applications are listed below and are consistent year-to-year unless otherwise announced. Click an opportunity to learn more and apply. Free deadline posters are available for your download below. February 1Paul Ecke Jr. and Altman Family Scholarships March 1James & Helen Phillip Floral Design GrantMosmiller InternshipVic & Margaret Ball InternshipMay 1Undergrad & Graduate ScholarshipsJune 1Educational GrantsAugust 1Gus Poesch Research GrantScientific Research ProposalsOctober 1Arizona Retail Florist GrantMosmiller InternshipRetail Florist Continued Education GrantVic & Margaret Ball InternshipApplications Accepted Year-RoundBusiness Internships  Deadline PostersBelow are free posters for your convenience so you can get your applications in on time, every time. Each poster has the same information, just click your favorite design, then right-click to…

AFE’s Research Achievements

The challenges facing the flower industry have changed throughout the last 60 years, and with these changes, AFE has redirected research efforts adapting to the needs of the community that we serve. As opportunities developed from these challenges, AFE supported research to enhance product quality, share best practices, and improve profits leading to a more successful floral industry. Many projects have been funded at universities and colleges across the U.S. through the years. Results from these projects have led to new production practices, postharvest & shipping procedures, reduced losses from pests & diseases, and improved longer lasting flowers. AFE funded research has transformed the floral industry as we know it today and resulted in improved quality of flowers reaching consumers.Let’s take…

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