AgBioResearch

Submitted by:

Michigan Floriculture Growers Council
Val Vail-Shirey, Executive Director

1. Improve the energy efficiency of floriculture crops and other high-value specialty crops produced in controlled environments (e.g., greenhouses and growth rooms) in Michigan, including:
• Strategies to produce crops with reduced energy inputs.
• Identification and implementation of cost‐effective, renewable energy sources, such as wind and biofuels.
• Outreach activities to educate growers about energy‐efficient greenhouse production, alternative energy sources, cost-effective lighting technologies, efficient cropping strategies, etc.
2. Develop lighting systems in controlled environments that consume less energy, accelerate plant growth and flowering, and can withstand variable growing environments.
3. Develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics of consumer demand for floriculture industry products.
4. Identify and develop sustainable production practices and products that reduce environmental impacts, such as use of biodegradable containers, recycling of plastics, reduced water and fertilizer consumption, etc.
5. Identify alternative high-value specialty crops (such as leafy greens and herbs) and develop more refined crop production schedules for profitable, controlled-environment production in Michigan.
6. Identify and test new and existing biocontrols, herbicides, fungicides, growth regulators, and insecticides to protect and support the greenhouse industry.
7. Develop strategies to extend the post‐harvest period of specialty crops grown in controlled environments so that the stress tolerance of plants is improved and/or plants have a longer shelf life.
8. Improve business marketing, management skills, and organizational development for greenhouse companies in Michigan.

Last updated: October 2018