Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695
Performing Department
Horticulture Science
Non Technical Summary
The U.S. strawberry industry farm gate value is approximately $2.3 billion. CurrentlyCalifornia contributes 78% ($1.8b), Florida 19% ($449m) and North Carolina 1% ($27m) to theeconomy. The bulk of the strawberry planting material for production fields comes from nurseryoperations in the U.S. and Canada. Those strawberry nursery production systems are costlymulti-year and multi-location operations and are limited to select environmental favorableregions. This process of mostly field based plant propagation presents multiple risks forpropagators and strawberry growers, and therefore for the industry as a whole. Field basedoperations increase the risk of spreading plant borne pathogens. While these can be symptomlessand thus not recognized in propagation fields, disease symptoms under fruiting field conditionscan lead to significant losses. These threats are predicted to increase if the Methyl Bromideexempt use runs out and it is not available any longer as soil fumigant to the strawberry nurseryindustry. Moreover, changes in weather patterns, increasing costs for transportation and laborand consumer shifts to organic production make current strawberry nursery systems in the U.S.economically less efficient and potentially unsustainable.The overall aim of the proposed project is to support the development of indoorpropagation strategies to provide a low-risk, cost-effective and dependable supply of high qualityand disease free strawberry plants for producers. The project aims to support the futurecompetitiveness and sustainability of the US strawberry industry by designing precision indoorpropagation (PIP) tools to optimize strawberry nursery production and to develop disease-free propagation material. PIP is defined as the production of propagation material under fullycontrolled environments and under the exemption of natural sunlight. The PIP systems allow theprecise optimization of environmental components (e.g. light, CO2, temperature, humidity, airvelocity, nutrients) to maximize propagation efficiency, reduce pathogenic risks, and increaseeconomic returns. The benefits will be shared by nurseries and by growers of every sizeoperation and can be applied beyond PIP systems (e.g. pathogen detection, nutrition, breeding).The objectives of the proposed planning phase are:(1) the development of a strategic plan to address the cost-effective optimization of PIPfor future strawberry nursery production. This will be realized by holding a 2-day meeting withcollaboration partners in Kannapolis, NC end of June/begin of July. The work will yield a SCRISREP or CAP full proposal, formulated and shaped by face-to-face collaboration and industryengagement(2) The assessment and evaluation of specific needs for research, effective outreach andeducation, specifically about PIP systems. This will be realized by an industry needs surveybefore the meeting. This will be indicative for the a successful SCRI SREP or CAP full proposaland will be conducted as a broader survey of nursery operations, extension services and industrypartners.The proposed project addresses three legislatively mandated focus areas (1) Research inplant breeding, genomics and other methods to improve crop characteristics. As indicatedabove, using genetic tools to improve crop characteristics such as runner production or pathogenresistance will be an integrated part of this project. (2) Identify and address threats from pestsand diseases. The production of disease-free plant material is a central aim of this project andrequires the implementation of detection methods and the development of protocols for indoorpropagation systems. (3) Improve production efficacy and profitability long-term. Another majoraim of this project is the development of low-cost, high efficacy and flexible PIP tools forstrawberry nursery operations. This aim will be steered by economic evaluations and cost-benefitanalyses.The expected outcome is: (1) Intensifying transdisciplinary teams between industry andscientists to address strawberry PIP systems. (2) Identifying industry needs (3) One or moreSCRI full project teams and proposals.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overall aim of the proposed project is to support the development of indoorpropagation strategies to provide a low-risk, cost-effective and dependable supply of high qualityand disease free strawberry plants for producers. The project aims to support the futurecompetitiveness and sustainability of the US strawberry industry by designing precision indoorpropagation (PIP) tools to optimize strawberry nursery production and to develop disease-free propagation material. PIP is defined as the production of propagation material under fullycontrolled environments and under the exemption of natural sunlight. The PIP systems allow theprecise optimization of environmental components (e.g. light, CO2, temperature, humidity, airvelocity, nutrients) to maximize propagation efficiency, reduce pathogenic risks, and increaseeconomic returns. The benefits will be shared by nurseries and by growers of every sizeoperation and can be applied beyond PIP systems (e.g. pathogen detection, nutrition, breeding).The objectives of the proposed planning phase are:(1) the development of a strategic plan to address the cost-effective optimization of PIPfor future strawberry nursery production. This will be realized by holding a 2-day meeting withcollaboration partners in Kannapolis, NC end of June/begin of July. The work will yield a SCRISREP or CAP full proposal, formulated and shaped by face-to-face collaboration and industryengagement(2) The assessment and evaluation of specific needs for research, effective outreach andeducation, specifically about PIP systems. This will be realized by an industry needs surveybefore the meeting. This will be indicative for the a successful SCRI SREP or CAP full proposaland will be conducted as a broader survey of nursery operations, extension services and industrypartners.
Project Methods
A industry need survey will be held before and during the meeting. A 2-day meeting for all stakeholders is planned insummer in North Carolina. A steering committee and an advisory panel has been built beforehand to realize the agenda and invitations.The meeting will have following objectives:(1) Share and discuss the results of a industry need survey; (2) Develop a vision for one or more follow up SCRISREP/CAP proposals; (3) Identify and discuss project priorities in theme based outbreak groups(4) Identify key objectives and key team members in theme based outbreak groups; (5) Discussresults and develop a common strategy for a full research and outreach SCRI SREP/CAP project;The aim of this meeting is to have a supported and feasible structure of a SCRISREP/CAP full project and committed and responsible team members in all areas of interest.On day 1, the meeting will start with a general introduction and educational session aboutcontrolled environment techniques and associated costs, led by Dr. Ricardo Hernandez (NCSU).After that, Co-PIs and selected collaborators will give a short overview of recent research andtheir vision of PIP development in strawberry. In the following, a general program vision will bediscussed under lead of chair and co-chair. Later, breakout session will be conducted to discussspecific program goals, objectives and team leaders.On day 2, results of those breakout sessionswill be shared by designated team leaders. Discussion about team specific and holistic budgetdecisions (such as e.g. a program managment assistant) will be held, led by chair and co-chair (tobe determined) with the aim to develop an overall rough budget, define team leaders, timelineand a personnel plan for a full SCRI proposal.1. Finalize roles in advisory panel and steering committee. Industry representatives,growers, association stakeholders and scientists will form steering committee and advisory panel.The roles of committee and panel members will be defined. The advisory panel will play animportant advisory and evaluation role for the project, while the steering committee mainly hasorganizational duties. Communication and organization within the panel and the committee willbe organized via conference calls, phone calls and emails. Panel and committee will decide andsend out invitations.2. Assess nursery industry needs. The second activity of the proposed project is to assessthe industry needs through a nation-wide survey and a follow up group discussion before themeeting. The survey will be developed with input from project leaders, but vetted and approvedby the advisory committee. This survey will assess needs and problems related to the strawberrynursery and propagation industry. Notification of the on-line survey will be distributed throughgrower associations, researcher/outreach networks and publications.3. Develop a SCRI SREP/CAP proposal..