Why Industry Support for Research Matters Now More Than Ever
By Laura Barth, Research Coordinator Recent conversations across the horticulture and floriculture community have indicated that many of our crucial university-based research programs are at risk of setbacks, eroding decades of progress and new developments. In the April issue of Greenhouse Grower Magazine, editor Brian Sparks highlighted how ongoing federal funding freezes are straining horticultural research efforts nationwide. At the same time, we followed up with a targeted survey to better understand what researchers are facing. Respondents from leading institutions shared their stories: rescinded job offers, halted graduate student funding, hiring freezes, and the disruption of long-term research projects. Some anticipate losing more than $1 million in future federal support. Others are scaling back programs that took decades to build.…