1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

Article by UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Urban Horticulture Agent Lorna Bravo What is the UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program? The UF Internship program is a collaboration between the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Its main goal is to introduce UF students to Extension services and the land-grant system [&#8230;]

<h5>Article by UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Urban Horticulture Agent Lorna Bravo</h5>
<h3>What is the UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program?</h3>
The UF Internship program is a collaboration between the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Its main goal is to introduce UF students to Extension services and the land-grant system while promoting community-based science education.
<h3>Broward County Internship Programs</h3>
Broward County UF/IFAS Extension has hosted UF interns annually. These interns actively participate in Extension activities, including surveys, creating educational materials, collaborating with Master Gardener Volunteers and advisory board members, and teaching within the Broward community. They also engage in research projects, present posters, and contribute to Urban Agriculture programs, Agroecology, water conservation, and Florida-Friendly Landscaping initiatives. By partnering with Broward County in this internship program, the interns gain deeper insights into Extension’s mission and role, as well as practical applications of scientific knowledge to benefit the community. They also become Extension ambassadors within Broward County, opening up new opportunities for programs and supporting Extension’s vital work.
<h3>Meet Broward County’s UF Intern, Abraham Cuadrado</h3>
Abraham Cuadrado will be graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education.
<figure id="attachment_8117" class="wp-caption alignnone" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8117"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8117" class="wp-caption-text"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="alignnone wp-image-9847 size-large lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="1024" height="576" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/files/2024/04/Slide5-1024x576.jpg"></figcaption></figure>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Abraham&#8217;s Extension Internship Project</h3>
As a Broward County Intern in 2024, Abraham actively contributed to Broward County’s Extension Urban Horticulture Sustainable Urban Food program. His project consisted of two main parts. First, he visited ten community garden sites across Broward County, conducting interviews and reviewing their food systems and crop varieties. Second, Abraham played a crucial role in organizing our very first community garden HUB.
My project experience has been transformative, and a privilege to come back and collaborate with my community. This project showcases my overall goal as an agricultural educator in looking at how agriculture can uplift people and communities ecologically and culturally. My project at extension has been a journey in educating and contributing to my community and university showing the importance of agricultural education being a path for sustainable food models and development.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/?attachment_id=9853"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-9853 size-large lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="1024" height="576" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/files/2024/04/Slide7-1024x576.jpg"></a>
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/?attachment_id=9855"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-9855 size-large lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="1024" height="576" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/browardco/files/2024/04/Slide8-1024x576.jpg"></a>
As an extension intern majoring in Agriculture Education, this project has been invaluable in showcasing the need for continuing the spread of agricultural literacy. It has provided me with the experience to collaborate with professors and extension agents in contributing a legacy of educational resources for others to learn. I plan on using the skills and insight I&#8217;ve developed to further fuel my passion in teaching agricultural foundations to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders.
&nbsp;
<h3>Watch Our Video!</h3>
<div></div>
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Connecting Future UF Alums to UF Extension" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ci507E0IJEY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h4>Let’s continue making a positive impact together!</h4>
By linking UF alumni to UF Extension, you’ll delve into the mission and role of Extension, while also applying scientific knowledge practically to benefit our community. Connect with your local Extension and gain new opportunities through Extension’s programs.
<h3>Contact us!</h3>
You can follow our Facebook page at @<a href="http://facebook.com/urbanhortbroward">http://facebook.com/urbanhortbroward</a>
Visit our Website@ <a href="http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/broward/urban-horticulture/">http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/broward/urban-horticulture/</a> 
<a href="https://tinyurl.com/urbanhhortbcyoutube">Visit our YouTube Channel at https://tinyurl.com/urbanhhortbcyoutube</a> 
Our Twitter page: <a href="https://twitter.com/HortUrban">https://twitter.com/HortUrban</a> 
Our Instagram page:@<a href="http://urbanhortbroward/">urbanhortbroward</a>

Article by UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Urban Horticulture Agent Lorna Bravo
What is the UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program?
The UF Internship program is a collaboration between the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Its main goal is to introduce UF students to Extension services and the land-grant system while promoting community-based science education.
Broward County Internship Programs
Broward County UF/IFAS Extension has hosted UF interns annually. These interns actively participate in Extension activities, including surveys, creating educational materials, collaborating with Master Gardener Volunteers and advisory board members, and teaching within the Broward community. They also engage in research projects, present posters, and contribute to Urban Agriculture programs, Agroecology, water conservation, and Florida-Friendly Landscaping initiatives. By partnering with Broward County in this internship program, the interns gain deeper insights into Extension’s mission and role, as well as practical applications of scientific knowledge to benefit the community. They also become Extension ambassadors within Broward County, opening up new opportunities for programs and supporting Extension’s vital work.
Meet Broward County’s UF Intern, Abraham Cuadrado
Abraham Cuadrado will be graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education.


Abraham’s Extension Internship Project
As a Broward County Intern in 2024, Abraham actively contributed to Broward County’s Extension Urban Horticulture Sustainable Urban Food program. His project consisted of two main parts. First, he visited ten community garden sites across Broward County, conducting interviews and reviewing their food systems and crop varieties. Second, Abraham played a crucial role in organizing our very first community garden HUB.
My project experience has been transformative, and a privilege to come back and collaborate with my community. This project showcases my overall goal as an agricultural educator in looking at how agriculture can uplift people and communities ecologically and culturally. My project at extension has been a journey in educating and contributing to my community and university showing the importance of agricultural education being a path for sustainable food models and development.
 


As an extension intern majoring in Agriculture Education, this project has been invaluable in showcasing the need for continuing the spread of agricultural literacy. It has provided me with the experience to collaborate with professors and extension agents in contributing a legacy of educational resources for others to learn. I plan on using the skills and insight I’ve developed to further fuel my passion in teaching agricultural foundations to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders.
 
Watch Our Video!


Let’s continue making a positive impact together!
By linking UF alumni to UF Extension, you’ll delve into the mission and role of Extension, while also applying scientific knowledge practically to benefit our community. Connect with your local Extension and gain new opportunities through Extension’s programs.
Contact us!
You can follow our Facebook page at @http://facebook.com/urbanhortbroward
Visit our Website@ http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/broward/urban-horticulture/
Visit our YouTube Channel at https://tinyurl.com/urbanhhortbcyoutube
https://twitter.com/HortUrban
urbanhortbroward

Article by UF/IFAS Extension Broward County Urban Horticulture Agent Lorna Bravo What is the UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program? The UF Internship program is a collaboration between the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Its main goal is to introduce UF students to Extension services and the land-grant system […]

Connecting Future UF Alums to UF Extension-Meet Abraham Cuadrado

A new study shows seafood food loss and waste in the United States is approximately 22.7%, a drastic decrease from previous estimates of between 43% and 47%. The study, conducted in part by researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS,) provides an in-depth estimate of food loss and food [&#8230;]

A new study shows seafood food loss and waste in the United States is approximately 22.7%, a drastic decrease from previous estimates of between 43% and 47%.
The study, conducted in part by researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS,) provides an in-depth estimate of food loss and food waste in the U.S. aquatic foods sectors. Previous estimates came from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “The method is the same, but the data are more detailed,” said <a href="https://ffgs.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/asche-frank/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frank Asche</a>, professor in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and a corresponding author of the study. “The key is not the differences between the different countries, but to account for the differences of the species being consumed, and the parts of the fish are not being exported but are still being used.”
<figure id="attachment_43919" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-43919" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-43919 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="fishing boats" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/04/019925-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-43919" class="wp-caption-text">Commercial fishing boats in an Apalachicola marina. Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS</figcaption></figure>
Approximately 80% of seafood consumed in the United States is imported.
Researchers conducted interviews and collected secondary data across the United States, Vietnam, Norway and other primary producers of seafood consumed in the United States. Looking at a four-year period from 2014-2018, they estimated food loss and waste for the top 10 fish species consumed in this country: shrimp, canned tuna, salmon, Alaska Pollock, tilapia, catfish, crab, cod, clams and pangasius, a type of shark catfish native to Southeast Asia. Previous studies neglected to account for species and supply chain characteristics.
Beyond providing an overall estimate, researchers identified where food loss and waste took place in the supply-chain process. Most happened in the primary production and the final consumption stages. When it comes to increasing sustainability and food security, the researchers believe this knowledge helps identify which areas of the supply chain may be targeted to reduce waste.
“Reducing waste is about more than just harvesting the right number of fish,” said <a href="https://fred.ifas.ufl.edu/about/directory/james-anderson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Anderson</a>, a UF/IFAS food and resource economics professor and corresponding author of the study. “It’s about harvesting them well and minimizing waste. It’s about not losing quality and quantity in the process.”
Aquaculture, or farmed fish, now accounts for about 50% of edible seafood production globally, and there are opportunities to improve its resilience from factors such as disease, poor water quality and possible pesticide contamination.
“Aquaculture is still in its infancy, so investing in things that improve its efficiency and reduce losses is reducing waste,” Anderson said.
The study also evaluated quality loss, a crucial factor in determining and minimizing food waste. Unlike the physical loss of a product, quality loss occurs when lower-quality products are sold for a discounted price, though the product can still able be used.
The study’s findings go beyond providing hope that food security is better in the aquatic foods industry than previously believed, according to the researchers. It also offers insight into methods for further reducing loss, both through regulation and consumer education.
Most seafood in the United States is purchased at the retail level and consumed at home, according to the study. Relying on food diaries, the researchers estimated a physical seafood loss rate of 8.5% at home. The most common reasons recorded were “did not want it as leftovers” at 18%, “bought too much” at 16% and disinterest due to slimy appearance and odors at 6%.
Consumers’ “relatively low proficiency” with handling, storing and preparing seafood may lead them to prematurely discard it, according to the study.
The full article, “Aquatic food loss and waste rate in the United States is half of earlier estimates,” is available now in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00881-z." target="_blank" rel="noopener">NatureFood</a>.
Adapted from a blog post by <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/fredept/author/alenarpoulin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alena Poulin</a>, UF food and resource economics department communications specialist.
###
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.
<a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/">ifas.ufl.edu</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>

A new study shows seafood food loss and waste in the United States is approximately 22.7%, a drastic decrease from previous estimates of between 43% and 47%.
The study, conducted in part by researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS,) provides an in-depth estimate of food loss and food waste in the U.S. aquatic foods sectors. Previous estimates came from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “The method is the same, but the data are more detailed,” said Frank Asche, professor in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and a corresponding author of the study. “The key is not the differences between the different countries, but to account for the differences of the species being consumed, and the parts of the fish are not being exported but are still being used.”
Commercial fishing boats in an Apalachicola marina. Photo by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS
Approximately 80% of seafood consumed in the United States is imported.
Researchers conducted interviews and collected secondary data across the United States, Vietnam, Norway and other primary producers of seafood consumed in the United States. Looking at a four-year period from 2014-2018, they estimated food loss and waste for the top 10 fish species consumed in this country: shrimp, canned tuna, salmon, Alaska Pollock, tilapia, catfish, crab, cod, clams and pangasius, a type of shark catfish native to Southeast Asia. Previous studies neglected to account for species and supply chain characteristics.
Beyond providing an overall estimate, researchers identified where food loss and waste took place in the supply-chain process. Most happened in the primary production and the final consumption stages. When it comes to increasing sustainability and food security, the researchers believe this knowledge helps identify which areas of the supply chain may be targeted to reduce waste.
“Reducing waste is about more than just harvesting the right number of fish,” said James Anderson, a UF/IFAS food and resource economics professor and corresponding author of the study. “It’s about harvesting them well and minimizing waste. It’s about not losing quality and quantity in the process.”
Aquaculture, or farmed fish, now accounts for about 50% of edible seafood production globally, and there are opportunities to improve its resilience from factors such as disease, poor water quality and possible pesticide contamination.
“Aquaculture is still in its infancy, so investing in things that improve its efficiency and reduce losses is reducing waste,” Anderson said.
The study also evaluated quality loss, a crucial factor in determining and minimizing food waste. Unlike the physical loss of a product, quality loss occurs when lower-quality products are sold for a discounted price, though the product can still able be used.
The study’s findings go beyond providing hope that food security is better in the aquatic foods industry than previously believed, according to the researchers. It also offers insight into methods for further reducing loss, both through regulation and consumer education.
Most seafood in the United States is purchased at the retail level and consumed at home, according to the study. Relying on food diaries, the researchers estimated a physical seafood loss rate of 8.5% at home. The most common reasons recorded were “did not want it as leftovers” at 18%, “bought too much” at 16% and disinterest due to slimy appearance and odors at 6%.
Consumers’ “relatively low proficiency” with handling, storing and preparing seafood may lead them to prematurely discard it, according to the study.
The full article, “Aquatic food loss and waste rate in the United States is half of earlier estimates,” is available now in NatureFood.
Adapted from a blog post by Alena Poulin, UF food and resource economics department communications specialist.
###
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.
ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS

A new study shows seafood food loss and waste in the United States is approximately 22.7%, a drastic decrease from previous estimates of between 43% and 47%. The study, conducted in part by researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS,) provides an in-depth estimate of food loss and food […]

New study shows seafood waste less profound than previously thought

At their core, land-grant institutions like the University of Florida focus on how science, research and global partnerships can address food-security challenges, develop innovative solutions and efficiently reach those in need. To promote food security, a team of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty recently conducted a three-day training program [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_42281" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-42281" style="width: 422px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-42281 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="422" height="281" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/02/⁭IFAS-team-demonstrating-soil-strips-300x200.jpeg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-42281" class="wp-caption-text">Jehangir Bhadha, an associate professor of soil, water and ecosystem sciences, distributes soil strips for testing soil health.</figcaption></figure>
At their core, land-grant institutions like the University of Florida focus on how science, research and global partnerships can address food-security challenges, develop innovative solutions and efficiently reach those in need.
To promote food security, a team of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty recently conducted a three-day training program in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the challenges of excess and lack of nutrients used for agricultural production.
The training was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service; U.S. Agency for International Development/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Region; the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.
“Nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, have long been used in agricultural practices in the form of fertilizers to enhance crop yields,” said <a href="https://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/bhadha/">Jehangir ‘Jango” Bhadha</a>, an associate professor of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences at the <a href="https://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center </a>(UF/IFAS EREC). “However, excess use of fertilizers can lead to eutrophication, a process that can degrade downstream and surrounding ecosystems.”
The process threatens biodiversity. Meanwhile, the agriculture industry faces the challenge of depleted soils in the Caribbean, resulting in insufficient fertilizer and threatening their food supply.
<a href="https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/kelly-morgan/">Kelly Morgan</a>, also a professor of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences at the UF main campus in Gainesville, led the training program with fellow UF/IFAS faculty Bhadha, <a href="https://hos.ifas.ufl.edu/people/on-campus-faculty/lincoln-zotarelli/">Lincoln Zotarelli</a>, a horticulture science professor, and <a href="https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/sarah-strauss/">Sarah Strauss</a>, an associate professor of soil microbiology, to enhance the technical knowledge, skills and practices of local growers, agricultural stakeholders and practitioners.
<figure id="attachment_42275" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-42275" style="width: 565px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-42275" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/02/438A0073-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="565" height="376" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-42275" class="wp-caption-text">A team of UF/IFAS faculty traveled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the challenges of excess and lack of nutrients used for agricultural production.</figcaption></figure>
The program included two days of interactive presentations and one day of field work, covering topics such as soil microbiology, soil health, organic matter, water and fertilizer management. The courses empowered growers, farm managers and landowners to chooU.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Servicese the most suitable technology and strategies for plant health and nutrition to improve soil fertility and overall agricultural productivity.
&#8220;We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to collaborate with local stakeholders in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the critical issue of nutrient management in agriculture,&#8221; said Bhadha. &#8220;By providing training and sharing expertise, we hope to contribute to global food security and promote a sustainable environment in this region.&#8221;
The UF/IFAS training program received positive feedback from participants, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about soil fertility and efficient fertilizer use.
&#8220;The collaboration between international organizations and local authorities highlights the importance of global partnerships in tackling nutrient management challenges for a secure food supply and a sound environment,&#8221; said Bhadha.
&nbsp;
###
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
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. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME 
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/food/">ifas.ufl.edu/food</a> or follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FoodIsOurMiddleName&amp;src=typed_query">#FoodIsOurMiddleName</a>.

Jehangir Bhadha, an associate professor of soil, water and ecosystem sciences, distributes soil strips for testing soil health.
At their core, land-grant institutions like the University of Florida focus on how science, research and global partnerships can address food-security challenges, develop innovative solutions and efficiently reach those in need.
To promote food security, a team of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty recently conducted a three-day training program in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the challenges of excess and lack of nutrients used for agricultural production.
The training was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service; U.S. Agency for International Development/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Region; the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.
“Nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, have long been used in agricultural practices in the form of fertilizers to enhance crop yields,” said Jehangir ‘Jango” Bhadha, an associate professor of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS EREC). “However, excess use of fertilizers can lead to eutrophication, a process that can degrade downstream and surrounding ecosystems.”
The process threatens biodiversity. Meanwhile, the agriculture industry faces the challenge of depleted soils in the Caribbean, resulting in insufficient fertilizer and threatening their food supply.
Kelly Morgan, also a professor of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences at the UF main campus in Gainesville, led the training program with fellow UF/IFAS faculty Bhadha, Lincoln Zotarelli, a horticulture science professor, and Sarah Strauss, an associate professor of soil microbiology, to enhance the technical knowledge, skills and practices of local growers, agricultural stakeholders and practitioners.
A team of UF/IFAS faculty traveled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the challenges of excess and lack of nutrients used for agricultural production.
The program included two days of interactive presentations and one day of field work, covering topics such as soil microbiology, soil health, organic matter, water and fertilizer management. The courses empowered growers, farm managers and landowners to chooU.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Servicese the most suitable technology and strategies for plant health and nutrition to improve soil fertility and overall agricultural productivity.
“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to collaborate with local stakeholders in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the critical issue of nutrient management in agriculture,” said Bhadha. “By providing training and sharing expertise, we hope to contribute to global food security and promote a sustainable environment in this region.”
The UF/IFAS training program received positive feedback from participants, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about soil fertility and efficient fertilizer use.
“The collaboration between international organizations and local authorities highlights the importance of global partnerships in tackling nutrient management challenges for a secure food supply and a sound environment,” said Bhadha.
 
###
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
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. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.

At their core, land-grant institutions like the University of Florida focus on how science, research and global partnerships can address food-security challenges, develop innovative solutions and efficiently reach those in need. To promote food security, a team of University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) faculty recently conducted a three-day training program […]

UF/IFAS scientists address food security in the Caribbean

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Connecting Future UF Alums to UF Extension-Meet Abraham Cuadrado

New study shows seafood waste less profound than previously thought

UF/IFAS scientists address food security in the Caribbean

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