Duration: 10/01/2027 to 09/30/2032

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

The green industry includes important economic sectors of wholesale nurseries, greenhouses, turfgrass sod producers, landscape design, construction and maintenance firms, and wholesale and retail firms that distribute related products (Hodges et al. 2015). According to the 2024 National Agricultural Statistics Service Census of Horticulture Specialties, the ornamental crop production industry in the U.S. grossed approximately $18.3 billion, employing over 2 million people. The importance of ornamental plants and shade trees also extends beyond the economic contributions associated with their production, sale, and maintenance. These plants are essential components of the human environment, providing numerous ecological, environmental, and societal benefits. When appropriately selected, located, and maintained, landscape plants can lower energy consumption, mitigate noise, remove air pollutants, improve water quality, minimize soil erosion and flooding, enhance ecological resilience, and provide habitat for wildlife (McPherson 2006). Trees and ornamental plants contribute significantly to the quality of outdoor spaces, enriching experiences ranging from residential recreation to playing sports, and visits to public parks. In addition, urban forests and ornamental landscapes can increase property values and strengthen community identity and pride.

The health, appearance, and value of urban landscapes and urban forests are continually challenged by a diverse array of arthropod pests and plant pathogens. These organisms can diminish plant vitality, compromise aesthetic and environmental benefits, and generate substantial demand for effective management strategies. In the production industry, pest and disease management drives up input costs, inclusive of increased labor, cost of pesticides, and regulatory processes. Developing pest and disease management programs that are both effective and sustainable for the green industry is particularly challenging due to three key factors: 1) the national scope of pest and disease management in the green industry, 2) increased movement of horticultural products leading to increased movement of invasive pests and disease organisms, and 3) critical information about regional variability in incidence and severity is still needed to optimize the use of novel pest and disease management tools.

A nationwide network of entomologists and plant pathologists specializing in ornamental horticulture is essential for addressing pest and disease management challenges that extend beyond individual states and regions. Ornamental plant production, nurseries, and managed landscapes face many shared challenges, including emerging and invasive pests and diseases, and shifts in pest and pathogen distributions associated with extreme environmental conditions. Because these threats often emerge in one region before spreading to others, coordinated communication among researchers and Extension professionals enables affected states to share early detection information, monitoring protocols, research findings, and management strategies with regions that have not yet encountered them.

 

NCERA-224 provides an established framework for identifying common research priorities, coordinating multistate investigations, developing and evaluating integrated pest management strategies, and reducing duplication of research efforts. The network and its participant members are also facilitating collaboration among entomologists, plant pathologists, regulatory agencies, and industry stakeholders to address emerging challenges more efficiently. By connecting specialists across geographic regions and disciplines, NCERA-224 strengthens preparedness for new pest introductions, supports proactive rather than reactive management, and accelerates the development and dissemination of science-based recommendations for the green industry. 

 

Through this network and with the resources proposed below, this group aligns with the USDA priorities of increasing profitability in this economically significant industry and protecting our growers and distributors from the increasing numbers of invasive insect pests and newly establishing pathogens. 

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Participation Form

Educational Plan

Organization/Governance

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AL, CO, DE, GA, MD, MN, NE, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WA

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

Tennessee State University