Virginia Tech researchers work to combat common diseases in controlled environment agriculture
Controlled environment agriculture protects crops from the outdoor elements and gives farmers the ability to maintain optimal growing conditions throughout the development of their crops. Despite providing optimal growing conditions, several common diseases are still prevalent in controlled environment agriculture production settings.
Kaylee South, assistant professor at the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has secured a $145,841 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to help combat those common diseases that producers face.
The grant is a part of the commission’s Southern Virginia program, which promotes economic growth and development in formerly tobacco-dependent communities.
The primary focus of South’s project involves the development and assessment of biofungicides. South, along with Michael Evans, director at the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, will develop and test biofungicides that target common diseases in controlled environment agriculture, such as gray mold in strawberry production and downy mildew in spinach production.
South is based at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, where she is a member of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center.
“Part of our mission at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is to build partnerships with industry to advance controlled environment agriculture in Virginia,” South said. “Through conversations with industry members, the need for a testing service was identified. This grant will allow us to meet that need by working with industry to evaluate products and ideas under greenhouse and vertical farm conditions.”
Funds from the grant will empower the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center to provide testing services for controlled environment agriculture companies. Additionally, the grant will facilitate the expansion of outreach efforts, reinforcing the center's commitment to industry collaboration and technological advancement in controlled environment agriculture.
