Challenges to SustainabilityChallenges to Sustainability in Florida in Florida

Dr. Norm LepplaDr. Norm Leppla

UF/IFAS - IPM FloridaUF/IFAS - IPM Florida

SYSCO 2008 Sustainable Ag/IPM SYSCO 2008 Sustainable Ag/IPM Conference & Farm TourConference & Farm Tour

1845 Florida 271845 Florida 27thth state (pop. 100,000) state (pop. 100,000) 1896 First train arrived in Miami1896 First train arrived in Miami 1898 Spanish American War1898 Spanish American War 1910 Citrus canker in Florida 1910 Citrus canker in Florida 1918 WWI land boom1918 WWI land boom 1929 Great Depression1929 Great Depression 1945 WWII military &1945 WWII military & industrialindustrial

developmentdevelopment

Florida Agriculture:Florida Agriculture: Historical AffectsHistorical Affects

History of Host History of Host Agricultural OrganizationsAgricultural Organizations

1964 IFAS established (UF 1862)1964 IFAS established (UF 1862) 1970 EPA established1970 EPA established 1972 Glades Crop Care founded1972 Glades Crop Care founded 1998 IPM Institute of North America formed1998 IPM Institute of North America formed 2001 IPM Florida established2001 IPM Florida established 2003 Southern Region IPM Center funded2003 Southern Region IPM Center funded 2004 SYSCO Sustainable Ag/IPM Program2004 SYSCO Sustainable Ag/IPM Program

Florida Agricultural StatisticsFlorida Agricultural Statistics

Population ~10 million (1980) , ~19 million (2007)Population ~10 million (1980) , ~19 million (2007) Number of principal farmers & farms ~ 44 thousandNumber of principal farmers & farms ~ 44 thousand Average farm size 244 acresAverage farm size 244 acres Average age of farmers ~57Average age of farmers ~57 Female principal farmers ~20 %Female principal farmers ~20 % Land Area ~ 54 thousand miLand Area ~ 54 thousand mi22 Land in farms 10,000,000 acres (15 thousand miLand in farms 10,000,000 acres (15 thousand mi22)) Vegetables 181,600 acresVegetables 181,600 acres

Sales of Florida VegetablesSales of Florida VegetablesVegetables, melons, potatoes ~1 billion salesVegetables, melons, potatoes ~1 billion sales

Mill

ion

s

Change:Change:

Good forGood for

someonesomeone

else!else!

Growth of MiamiGrowth of Miami

1896 in Lobby Pool 1896 in Lobby Pool RoomRoom ~400 people ~400 people incorporate Miamiincorporate Miami

Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County Population ~2.3 millionPopulation ~2.3 million

Miami-Miami-DadeDade

EvergladesEverglades

Limited Land for Vegetables

Lake Lake OkeechobeeOkeechobee

Principle areas- winter fresh

vegetables

Millions of citrus trees by county

10 5 1 <1 <100,000

Potential Threats to Vegetable Potential Threats to Vegetable Production & MarketingProduction & Marketing

Food borne illnesses Food borne illnesses Land availability and useLand availability and use Labor and immigrationLabor and immigration Water quality and quantity Water quality and quantity Higher operating costs (fuel)Higher operating costs (fuel) New plant pests and diseasesNew plant pests and diseases

Potential Threats to Vegetable Potential Threats to Vegetable Production & MarketingProduction & Marketing

Loss of pesticidesLoss of pesticides Offshore competitionOffshore competition Damaging weatherDamaging weather Population GrowthPopulation Growth EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism Government “assistance”Government “assistance”

Opportunities for Sustainable Opportunities for Sustainable Vegetable ProductionVegetable Production

Research innovationsResearch innovations Extension deliveryExtension delivery Rapid information exchangeRapid information exchange Weather forecastingWeather forecasting Education and training Education and training

Opportunities for Sustainable Opportunities for Sustainable Vegetable ProductionVegetable Production

Cooperative marketingCooperative marketing Local marketsLocal markets Novel productsNovel products Grower associationsGrower associations Government “assistance”Government “assistance” Food safety partnershipsFood safety partnerships

Sustainability of Sustainability of AgricultureAgriculture

Economic profitabilityEconomic profitability

Environmental healthEnvironmental health

Social and economic well-beingSocial and economic well-being

Agricultural Sustainability Agricultural Sustainability Through IPMThrough IPM

SustainabilitySustainability

Cultural MethodsCultural Methods

Biological ControlBiological Control

Chemical ControlChemical Control

Physical MethodsPhysical Methods

Non-Sustainable WeedNon-Sustainable Weed Control- Leppla Residence Control- Leppla Residence

REDUCE RISK…

• Pest outbreaks & disease epidemics

• Environmental contamination

• Human health hazards

• Pest mgmt. costs

IPM SystemINCREASE…

• Reliability

• Sustainability

Cultural Methods

Biological Control

Chem

What is IPM?What is IPM?

IPM is theIPM is the coordinatedcoordinated use of pest use of pest and environmentaland environmental informationinformation andand availableavailable pest controlpest control methodsmethods….….

toto prevent prevent unacceptableunacceptable levels levels of of pest damage by the mostpest damage by the most economical economical means….means….

with thewith the least possible hazardleast possible hazard to to people, property and the people, property and the environment.environment.

ScoutingScouting

DiagnosisDiagnosis

ThresholdsThresholds

ManagementManagement

EvaluationEvaluation

IPM ActionsIPM Actions

Biological knowledgeBiological knowledge Monitoring and inspectionMonitoring and inspection Act to control pests when necessaryAct to control pests when necessary Choose least-risk options Choose least-risk options Long-term, preventative practicesLong-term, preventative practices Evaluation and recordsEvaluation and records Pesticide managementPesticide management Continual improvementContinual improvement

Generic IPM ProgramGeneric IPM Program

Evaluating IPM PracticesEvaluating IPM Practices

Eco-labeling Components

Chain of CustodyStandards

Certification

Marketing

3rd PartyAuditor

Education & Outreach

Eco-LabelEco-Label

Eco-labels

Eco-labeling Costs and Benefits EVALUATION

EDUCATION

QUALITY ASSURANCE

IMPLEMENTATION

SAVE $ ON PRODUCTION

HIGHER VALUE COMMODITY

LIABILITY PROTECTION

ENVIRON. STEWARDSHIP

Shared Goal:Shared Goal: for on-farm production, for on-farm production, post-harvest handling and processing, post-harvest handling and processing, distribution, retail and food-service distribution, retail and food-service operations-- to provide the safest operations-- to provide the safest possible fresh fruits and vegetables to possible fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers-- through wise, consistent, consumers-- through wise, consistent, scientific and industry-wide best scientific and industry-wide best practices (Citrus and Vegetable practices (Citrus and Vegetable Magazine)Magazine)