News
AFE-Sponsored Events at Cultivate’25!
June 20, 2025
Catch up with AFE at Cultivate’25! Held from July 15-18 in Columbus, Ohio, Cultivate is one of the industry’s leading horticulture events. AFE-funded research will be featured in an educational session that will equip you with valuable insights and strategies for effective pest management. Additionally, we are holding a sustainability roundtable (invite-only) to collaborate with industry members from all segments and collect feedback on key topics of sustainability. We will also be hosting our annual Young Professionals Council meetup during Cultivate! If you haven’t already, register for Cultivate here.
Managing Thrips Parvispinus: Strategies for Prevention and Control
Date: Sunday, July 13 from 11:15-12:15pm EST
Location: Room C170
Speaker: Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
Thrips parvispinus, a tropical thrips originating from South Asia, has spread globally and is now causing significant damage in North American greenhouse, field, and landscape plants. Growers face serious losses due to plant damage, and increased pesticide use raises the risk of resistance while complicating biological control efforts. Existing strategies for western flower thrips are ineffective against T. parvispinus, making management even more challenging.
An American Floral Endowment-funded project is exploring ways to prevent infestations through clean plant material and develop effective biological control solutions. This session will provide the latest research findings and practical recommendations to help growers mitigate the impact of this invasive pest.
Sustainability Roundtable (Invite-Only)
Date: Sunday, July 13 from 1:00-3:00pm
Sustainabloom is a floriculture sustainability program launched by AFE in 2022. Sustainabloom’s mission is to help businesses in the floriculture industry embrace sustainability with a practical, approachable touch. It provides educational resources and tools that make sustainability accessible and actionable for everyone in the industry.
Building on the success of the first roundtable in 2024, this event will focus on advancing
sustainability calls to action for the U.S. floriculture industry. The objective is to gather insights and expertise from various industry leaders to create a shared vision for sustainability that evolves over time and reflects the diverse needs and goals of all stakeholders.
If you would like to learn more or get involved, please reach out to us at info@sustainabloom.org!
Young Professionals Council (YPC) Meetup
Date: Sunday, July 13 from 12:00-1:00pm
Each year at Cultivate, we host a special meet-up for our Young Professionals Council (YPC). Our YPC offers leadership and networking opportunities for young industry professionals 18-35 years old, while also offering them a wide range of volunteer opportunities within the industry. This is a great chance to get involved in the YPC if you aren’t already, and connect with other members! This year, we are also celebrating the incredible 10-year anniversary of the formation of the YPC!
Information on the time and location will be shared via email ahead of Cultivate! If you’d like to join reach out to Karin Krause at kkrause@afendowment.org. If you aren’t already a member of the YPC, learn more and join here.
