Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Several terrestrial snail and slug species are causing serious problems in various horticultural settings in the continental US including fruit (e.g., citrus, strawberries, blueberries), vegetables and ornamentals. These are serious problems that affect agricultural products, by reducing profitability, increasing production costs, or lowering product quality. Examples of these pests are the non-native Bulimulus spp. (snails, Bulimulidae), Deroceras spp. (slugs, Agriolimacidae), Arion spp. (slugs, Arionidae), Xerolenta obvia (snails, Geomitridae), Cornu aspersum (snails, Helicidae). Management of mollusk populations often relies on chemical molluscicides, typically applied in granular bait form, which are relatively expensive, less effective under the wet conditions that favor slugs and snails, and toxic to wildlife. Therefore, there is a critical need in developing alternative methods to molluscicides to be used by growers against slugs and snails. The goal of the present Research and Extension Planning Project is to facilitate two workshops to prepare the submission of a SCRI proposal for 2026. In addition to these workshops, a website will be launched, a need assessment will be conducted among stakeholders to tailors the research and Extension objectives of the futur proposal, and a review paper will be submitted.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the present Research and Extension Planning Project is to facilitate two workshops designed to bring together stakeholders representing various sectors, including private entities and public organizations, alongside researchers, Extension faculty, and representatives from state and federal agencies. The aim is to collaboratively develop regional strategies to address the challenges of nuisance and phytophagous molluscan pests across the United States. These workshops will lead to the development of targeted strategies, encompassing chemical and biological control methods, the use of repellents and attractants, physical barriers, and trapping techniques. These strategies will be tailored to both national and regional contexts, specifically focusing on mitigating the impacts of several mollusk species on specialty crops. This planning grant will lead to the submission of a full proposal to the SCRIp program for 2026 fiscal year.
Project Methods
To address the complexity of pest gastropod species in specialty crops, we need innovative solutions that require the partnership and collaboration that will emerge from a national cross-disciplinary planning strategy. The two workshops will engage the scientific and stakeholder communities in a deep conversation about knowledge gaps and a plan of action. In addition to the workshops and the grant proposal for the SCRI (Specialty Crop Research Initiative) program (Fiscal year 2026), the following outcomes are planned from this project:Launch of a website. The Website will help coordinate and promote the workshops. It will also contain links to current resources for mollusk management.Needs assessment. A needs assessment will be conducted between the two workshops. To minimize costs, this needs assessment will be posted online through the University of Florida supported service Qualtrics®. Qualtrics is a robust, sophisticated service for creating and delivering web-based surveys for academic research purposes. The needs assessment will consist of 30 to 50 questions for growers, crop consultants, and Extension agents. The survey will take 10 to 20 minutes to complete. To ensure use of the data for publication, a review of the research will be sent to the University of Florida Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) for approval prior to survey dissemination. Our objective is to reach approximately 200 responders.A review article to be submitted to the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, to provide an overview of the current issues relative to terrestrial mollusks in horticultural crops and current control methods available. The results of the needs assessment may be added to this article or could be published in a separate article.Scientific presentations at the Entomological Society of America (and affiliated local branches), Florida Entomological Society, American Malacological Society, by the different members of the Organizing Committee.Workshop goals and objectivesThe Organizing Committee will convene two workshops aimed at crafting a detailed action plan. The ultimate objective is to submit one Standard Research and Extension Project (SREP) or one Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) proposal to the Specialty Crop Research Initiative for the 2026 fiscal year. The goal of this future proposal will be to target the resolution of nationwide deficiencies in the management of pest gastropods in horticultural crops. Workshops will be promoted nationwide and held in two locations (Florida and New York). Scientists from the west coast and Midwest will be invited, and key participant travel expenses covered (the project proposal has $23,000 set apart for travel expenses only, see Budget justification form). Key objectives for completion of grant for Workshop A objectives will be to 1) Assemble a committed team of research and Extension faculty, 2) Share expertise of home institutions and needs of home regions, 3) Identify prospective industry stakeholder participants to invite to Workshop B, and 4) Develop a needs assessment survey of industry stakeholders and Extension faculty, nationwide. Key objectives for Workshop B will be to 1) Identify a preliminary portfolio of industry-vetted research and Extension projects, 2) Prioritize strategic research and Extension plans, and 3) Outline one or more SCRI grant applications, including investigators, deliverables, milestones, and timetables.Workshop planning activitiesZoom Meetings: The Planning Team will participate in monthly Zoom calls with the goals of organizing the workshop, initiating the planning process for forthcoming SCRI proposals, and enhancing the current team network. Stakeholders would be invited to share their experiences and concerns with mollusk pests.Workshop A (Spring 2025, in Florida) The key objectives for completion of grant will begin with a broad overview of the Planning Team's vision, value proposition, and objectives. Posters displaying completed projects by participants, which highlight their institution's expertise and infrastructure capabilities, will be exhibited. Presentations will be made by participants to share the expertise of their home institutions and the needs of their home regions and stakeholders. Participants will include Organizing Committee members, faculty and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) scientists interested in joining the proposal, their postdocs, and students. Breakout groups will discuss needs and propose survey questions. Participants will then craft survey questions to be sent to stakeholders and Extension faculty. Finally, the workshop will end with a synopsis of the SCRI RFPs (Request for Proposals). The workshop agenda will include time for attendees to network with each other and the Planning Team.Proposed agendaWelcome and overview of the workshop (10 minutes)Symposium 'Challenges in control of terrestrial mollusk in horticulture" (120 to 180 minutes total). The goal of this symposium is to introduce the different mollusk pest systems that horticulture production is facing (B. sporadicus, B. pallens...). This symposium will be open to stakeholders.Questions and roundtable with local stakeholders (30 minutes)Development of the collaborative team for the SCRI proposal and of prospective industry stakeholder and grower participants (60 minutes)Review of the needs assessment survey template and comments (60 minutes)Grant planning meeting in breakout groups (120 min): objectives, timeline, identifications of potential partners, constitution of the working teams.Recollection of ideas from the breakout teams (60 min)Timeline and tasks for the next meeting (30 min)Poster session (all day event)Workshop B (Fall 2025, New-York State) will begin with a discussion of needs identified in the survey results and those of the industry stakeholders in attendance. The group will discuss strategies for integrating feedback from stakeholders into a proposal. Participants will engage in open dialogue to identify overarching themes and significant needs that span geographical boundaries and require interdisciplinary collaboration to effectively tackle challenges in mollusk management. Feedback on themes and specific project ideas will be solicited from each participant to determine interest and capabilities. Discussion will coalesce around one or two project ideas to be developed into SCRI grant applications. PDs, co-PDs, and industry partners will be identified, grant writing "homework" will be assigned, and timelines agreed upon. Following the Workshop, the Planning Team will regularly follow up with all involved.Proposed agendaWelcome and overview of the workshop (10 minutes)Presentation of the results from the needs assessment and discussion (60 minutes)Symposium 'Perspectives for mollusk management in horticulture" (6 lectures of 20 minutes, 120 minutes total). The goal of this symposium is to present recent updates on research conducted by the group members and partners and open discussion for further research to be included in the next SCRI proposal. Priority will be given to speakers and groups absent during Workshop A. This symposium will be open to local stakeholders.Questions and roundtable with local stakeholders (30 minutes)Grant planning meeting in breakout groups (120 min): status of the proposals, inclusion of research priorities highlighted by the needs assessment and the stakeholder interviews during the Zoom meetings.Recollection of ideas from the breakout teams (60 min)Timelines and tasks for the SCRI proposal, the review article, and the needs assessment articles (60 min).