Emerging Ag Enterprises in Florida Set for Growth

There is no shortage of commodities produced by Florida. There are literally hundreds. But, there’s always room for more, right? A new UF/IFAS grant program is set to provide ample backing in funds and know-how to further research and education of emerging agricultural enterprises in the state.

Titled “Support for Emerging Enterprise Development Integration Teams” (SEEDIT), the program’s 19 projects total almost $1.24 million and include 176 faculty and staff, 14 UF/IFAS academic units, and seven research and education centers. According to UF/IFAS, the projects represent diverse and novel agricultural sectors including vanilla, hops, specialty pumpkins, high-tunnel veggies, and more.

“There is a desire for alternative crops and enterprises by our stakeholders around the state,” said Robert Gilbert, UF/IFAS dean for research. “We developed the idea of research and extension working together to identify choke points and alleviate economic barriers to grow these different enterprises.”

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