Industry-driven fundraising efforts to guarantee the long-term viability of turf research at the University of Florida are off and running.
Led by golf course superintendents throughout the Sunshine State, the Florida Turfgrass Industry Endowed Research Fund stands at $400,000, which is 20 percent of fund’s goal of $2 million.
With many turfgrass programs around country contracting and others closing outright, the Florida Turfgrass Industry Endowed Research Fund will help solidify research efforts in the University of Florida Turfgrass Science program, allowing university researchers to continue to serve turf managers from Pensacola to Key West and everywhere in between.
“We strongly believe that having this industry led and funded endowment ensures that UF will retain its globally recognized turfgrass program far into the future,” said Kevin Kenworthy, Ph.D., UF professor of plant breeding. “This endowment doesn’t just make the future of the program more secure; it brings the industry and UF closer together.”
The fund will help scientists and superintendents work together to identify best practices as the golf industry faces increasing scrutiny over inputs, including water, fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides.
“The industry must be responsive to the current concerns and get ahead of anticipated future issues,” Kenworthy said. “This endowment makes sure the UF turfgrass science program is taking on the issues of greatest importance affecting the industry.”
Funding also will help the university continue to attract the best researchers to serve growers and turf managers throughout Florida.
“The endowment will help UF continue to attract the best trained and experienced PhDs, help them to achieve tenure and reduces the possibility of losing good scientists,” Kenworthy said. “When current faculty retire, the industry now has a good foot in the door to make sure those people are replaced with individuals that have the talent to meet current and future needs of the turfgrass industry.”
