Few resident may think of the University of Florida and a squad of researchers when they look at their trees , bush , or vegetable gardens . But , UF scientists ’ enquiry on pests , urban landscaping and local food systems has helped primal Florida stay green .

Now , the Mid Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka , part of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences , will lionize 50 yr of groundbreaking study . The shopping mall will host an outcome starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday , Nov. 7 .

The center has a rich history in leafage inquiry , but has flesh out into alternative craw , Florida well-disposed landscaping and urban food for thought systems , say Roger Kjelgren , conductor of the UF / IFAS Mid Florida Research and Education Center .

“ Lifestyle , or urban , horticulture has a $ 21 billion impact on the res publica economy , ” Kjelgren said . “ The industriousness provides more than 200,000 jobs , so it ’s very authoritative to bring up lifestyle gardening as primal Florida becomes more urbanized . ”

The shopping mall was establish in 1968 , then combined with enquiry nerve center in Apopka , Leesburg and Sanford in 2000 . “ Each of those centers was formed to address care of growers and homeowners , ” Kjelgren say . “ But so as to better meet industry - wide-eyed needs , the three centers were combine to enable investigator to more easily portion out entropy , and provide a cardinal location for key Florida growers and producers . ”

Today , nearly 50 staff , students and 11 faculty focusing on inquiry to address the needs of Floridians , which includes merged pest management , urine conservation , farming economic science , plant pathology and genetics , Kjelgren said . “ All of our oeuvre is focused on maintaining a greener and healthier lifestyle , ” he said .

In foliage , the centre has play a crucial role in developing biologic pest controls , bringing up and product of lilliputian starter plant life and treat technique that help the industry become humanity renowned . “ For model , we lately help two dynamic and rapidly growing companies in Apopka so that they are conduct the industry global , ” Kjelgren said .

MREC researchers ’ work has helped the landscape industry produce live industrial plant to enhance garden , front one thousand and common , Kjelgren said . MREC partners with the UF / IFAS Florida Friendly Landscaping program to facilitate consumer choose the right industrial plant for the right stead with appropriate pestilence ascendance and a minimal use of irrigation and fertilizer to keep plants sound , he enounce .

Researchers at the center also study medicinal works , which flavor our beverages and fill our medicine cabinets , Kjelgren said . “ UF / IFAS scientist bear witness that hops can rise in Florida , much to the pleasure of the grow foxiness beer industry , ” he said . Currently , scientist are studying how to spring up skullcap , a pocket-sized , native herb ; butterfly teatime , a vine with beautiful blue flowers that can be used for healthy tea ; and yacon , a daisy - like herb with a tasty sweet tuber that has many medicative properties .

In urban intellectual nourishment systems , MREC scientists are on the front lines of the trend to turn and wipe out more locally acquire and tidy foods . “ Most of our food is grown far aside and distributed through a centralized organization that few know or see , ” he read . “ But urban food system are a decentralise , a more knowable , local , organically grown and distributed , healthy food from diverse sources . It can come from small-scale suburban farm to abandoned urban tidy sum to indoor hydroponics in urban center centers .

“ MREC is expand its focus to study way to slim down barriers and add motivator that will promote urban nutrient yield and dispersion . ”

The center ’s researcher look forward to another 50 years of help central Florida become greener and healthier , Kjelgren said . “ Our research and sharing of information through UF / IFAS Extension table service increase the timber of sprightliness of all Floridians , ” he said .

Source : University of Florida ( Beverly M. James )