Floriculture sustainability research is a growing field focused on developing and implementing best practices in the floriculture industry. Much of the research done in floriculture relates to areas of sustainability and often produces best practices for the industry.  

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) annually funds research in areas of IPM, water nutrition, lighting, technology, and other areas. This, along with other important and necessary research helps to advance our industry and provide best practices and guidelines for sustainable practices.

Currently, in addition to AFE’s research being funded, researchers are working on a variety of topics, including

• Integrated nutrient management (INM): Researchers are developing new INM strategies for floriculture crops that can reduce nutrient runoff and pollution.
• Integrated pest management (IPM): Researchers are developing new IPM strategies for floriculture crops that rely less on pesticides.
• Crop rotation: Researchers are investigating the benefits of crop rotation for floriculture crops, such as improved soil health and reduced pest and disease problems.
• Water conservation: Researchers are developing new water conservation practices for floriculture crops, such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting.
• Energy efficiency: Researchers are developing new energy efficiency practices for floriculture greenhouses, such as LED lighting and heat recovery systems.
• Packaging: Researchers are developing new biodegradable and compostable packaging materials for floriculture products.
• Fair trade floriculture: Researchers are working to improve the social and environmental conditions of floriculture workers in developing countries.

In addition to these specific topics, floriculture sustainability researchers are also working on developing more comprehensive frameworks for measuring and assessing the sustainability of floriculture production systems.

Here are some examples of specific floriculture sustainability research projects:

• Floral quality assessment in cold chain management (vaselife)

Stay updated on more requested floriculture sustainability research project by AFE by connecting with us!

Floriculture sustainability research is essential for developing and implementing sustainable practices that can reduce the environmental and social impacts of the floriculture industry. By supporting floriculture sustainability research, we can help to create a more sustainable future for the floriculture industry and for the planet.

Contributions support floriculture research.  Please partner with us and contribute to support future research.