A $130 Million Drain: UF Researcher Looks to Genetics To Rein In Wasteful Strawberry Runners (UF/IFAS)
A University of Florida researcher is studying the genetics of strawberry runners to help growers reduce yield losses while preserving their benefits for plant propagation.
UF Scientists Successfully Grow Plants in Moon Soil From Apollo 11 (WCJB TV20)
UF researchers are advancing the possibility of growing food on the moon by successfully cultivating plants in lunar soil collected during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission.
On the Edge of a Breakthrough: UF/IFAS Breeding Disease-Resistant Lettuce for U.S. Farms, Kitchens (UF/IFAS)
University of Florida researchers, led by German Sandoya and supported by a $500,000 USDA grant, are developing disease-resistant lettuce varieties to protect yields against bacterial leaf spot and rising temperatures.
INZECTO Awarded Pest Control Products Development Company of the Year 2026 (Environmental Business Review)
UF startup INZECTO has been awarded the Pest Control Products Development Company of the Year 2026 by Environmental Business Review.
UF’s RoboPI Lab Making Waves With Marine Robots (UF News)
A University of Florida researcher is developing marine robots to safely explore and operate in the ocean’s harsh, hard-to-access environments. The goal is to monitor marine ecosystems and protect critical underwater infrastructure, including vulnerable subsea data centers.
Cold-Hardy Avocados Aimed at Transforming Florida’s Future Fruit Industry (UF News)
UF researchers are developing cold-hardy avocado varieties that can survive North Florida winters, with the January 2026 cold snap helping demonstrate their potential to expand avocado production farther north.
Researchers Successfully Make Horse Embryo With IVF, a First in Florida (UF News)
UF researchers achieved Florida’s first successful in-vitro fertilization of an equine egg, a breakthrough that could help valuable mares safely produce foals and strengthen the state’s multibillion-dollar horse industry.
Golden Anniversary, Double Bloom: UF Unveils 50th and 51st Caladiums (UF/IFAS)
UF’s ornamental breeding program has introduced its 50th and 51st caladium cultivars, underscoring Florida’s global leadership in caladium production and decades of innovation driven in part by UF researcher and breeder Zhanao Deng.
Researchers Create DNA Detection Tool To Stop Spread of Invasive Asian Swamp Eels, Bullseye Snakeheads (UF News)
UF researchers developed a novel environmental DNA test to detect invasive fish such as the Asian swamp eel and bullseye snakehead in the Everglades, offering a powerful new tool to protect fragile ecosystems.
From Physics to Farming, One Animal Scientist’s Path to Innovative Dairy Calf Welfare Research (UF News)
UF researcher Emily Miller-Cushon combines data science and animal welfare research to advance animal sciences while inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.