Dr. Melissa Muñoz from NC State University , a aborigine of Medellin , Colombia , and a member of AFE ’s Young Professionals Council , took the leg to demo her extended research findings on Botrytis control . Melissa ’s academic journey , culminating in a Ph.D. at Clemson University , provided her with valuable insight into Botrytis blight ’s impact on weakened roses . Her work has identify alternative practice to effectively wangle this disease in Colombian cutting flush operations . Her Proflora presentation , delivered in Spanish , focused on innovative management strategies to divvy up with the adjure issue of fungicide resistance exploitation and research the use of biorational product as sustainable alternatives .
Ashley Summerfield , a Senior Research Technician at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Canada , presented practical strategy and knowledge to help growers make a successful transition to a biocontrol - ground IPM computer program . Her presentation delve into the intricacies of biocontrol - based thrips management , offering worthful insights into the strategy that have proven effective for decorative agriculturalist in Canada . Ashley , who boasts nearly a ten of experience in glasshouse pest inquiry , has focused extensively on thrip IPM . She is particularly passionate about thrips species recognition , having co - author a simplified thrips identification guide for agriculturist and IPM proficient specialists in Ontario , Canada . Both school term had full rooms with attendee eager to see more about AFE ’s Thrips & Botrytis research and resource . The beneficial news program for those looking to learn more is that the Endowment has recently launched a brand - unexampled Thrips & Botrytis Research Library that is totally innocent to the industry with enlightening webinars , insightful fact sheets , lock articles , and more for carrying out strategy . These impactful resources are provided in both English and Spanish . In accession to these two presentation , another high spot was AFE ’s Research Director , Dr. Terril Nell , being honored with a special Award of Recognition during the Asocolflores Networking Lunch . This award recognise Dr. Nell ’s continued service and dedication to the floriculture industry throughout his career . This follow Dr. Nell ’s recent induction into the Floriculture Hall of Fame . AFE also participated in the Sustainability Meeting . The Endowment is operate diligently on a Modern sustainability project , Sustainabloom , which will be found with a website soon provide sustainability guides for all segment of the flowered industry . to boot , AFE has of late become the new Associate Member of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative ( FSI ) .
While at Proflora , the Endowment partner with other US Floral Trade Organizations in a special informational booth register how the floral industry can persist in to support each other and collaborate globally .
