Feb 1, 2008

HRI Awards 2008 Research Grants and ScholarshipsSource: HRI

The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) granted $425,000 to research endeavors throughout the country for 2008. The chosen projects focus on critical industry issues, with the goal of resulting in innovative solutions and problem-solving techniques.

HRI continues efforts to broaden research activities through collaboration with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative. In the future, HRI will continue to expand funding for nursery research by pursuing external funding opportunities. HRI’s vision is to become the nursery and landscape industry’s national leader in research and development.

HRI was established in 1962 as the research affiliate of ANLA, with a mission of directing, funding promoting and communicating horticultural research. Thus far, HRI has directed more than $4.9 million of industry funds to more than 600 research projects covering the full range of production, environmental and business issues important to the trade.

RESEARCH GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS 2008:

$75,000 – Development of Alternative Container Substrates a Block Grant

Auburn University, Ala., and USDA-ARS, Miss.

(Drs. Gene K. Blythe, Charles Gilliam, and Glenn Fain)

$33,000 – Development of New Landscape Plants for all Regions of North America

Landscape Plant Development Center, Minn.

(Dr. Harold Pellett)

$25,000 – Development of New Technologies for the Detection of Phytophthora in Ornamental Nurseries

University of California – Riverside

(Dr. Michael Coffey)

$25,000 – Web-based Decision Support Model for Container Production

University of Florida

(Dr. Thomas Yeager)

$24,000 – Deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks for Real-Time Water and Nutrient Management

University of Maryland

(Drs. John D. Lea-Cox, Andrew G. Ristvey, David S. Ross and George Kantor)

$24,000 – Evaluation and Commercialization of Bioplastic Pots

Iowa State University

(Dr. William Graves)

$23,500 – Implementation of RFID System Using Containers and Tags to Improve Nursery Production Efficiency

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

(Dr. Shaun F. Kelly)

$20,000 – Biodegradable Container Business Plan

(Investigator to Be Determined)

$20,000 – Sustainable Sites Initiative

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas

(Dr. Steve Windhager)

$18,000 – Reducing Over-wintering Costs of Containerized Plant Production: Maximizing Root Hardiness, Media Selection and Insulation in the Nursery

Cornell University, N.Y.

(Dr. Nina Bassuk)

$16,000 – Interactive Impacts of Salts and Surfactants in Recycled Wastewater on Landscape Plants

Colorado State University

(Dr. Yaling Qian)

$15,000 – Development and Testing of Non-Invasive Euonymus alatus and Buddleia davidii

University of Minnesota

(Dr. Alan Smith)

$15,000 – Evaluation of the Invasive and Noxious Weed Species Propagule-Bank in Ohio Nurseries, Landscapes and Natural Areas

The Ohio State University

(Dr. Hannah Mathers)

$15,000 – Management of Diaprepes Root Weevil in Ornamental Nurseries

University of Florida and University of California – Davis and Riverside

(Drs. Catharine Mannion and Jim Bethke)

$12,500 – Online Access for the Journal of Environmental Horticulture

University of Maryland

(Drs. John D. Lea-Cox)

$11,000 – Controlled Release Fertilizer Winter Release Effect on Plant Uptake and the Environment

Oregon State University and Ohio State University

(Drs. James Owen, Jr. and James Altland)

$10,000 – Identification of Christmas Trees with Superior Needle Retention

Washington State University

(Dr. Gary A Chastagner)

$10,000 – Breeding New Nursery Crops

North Carolina State University

(Dr. Thomas G. Ranney)

$10,000 – SNA Research Conference

$5,000 – Developing the Landscape Potential of Native Plants

Landscape Plant Development Center, Minn.

(Dr. Harold Pellett)

$5,000 – The Appeal of Biodegradable Packaging to Floral Consumers

University of Tennessee

(Dr. Charles R. Hall)

HRI Scholarship for 2008

The following scholarships are available for 2008. Scholarship applications are due by April 1, 2008. Visit: www.anla.org/research/scholarships for complete details.

$4,000 – Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship

$3,500 – Timothy Bigelow and Palmer W. Bigelow Jr. Scholarship

$2,500 – Spring Meadow Nursery Scholarship

$1,500 – The Muggets Scholarship

$1,500 – The Usrey Family Scholarship