UF/IFAS SWFREC

We are pleased to announce "Facilitating the Next Generation of Digital Twin in Agriculture" to be held at the Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, April 13, 2026. Event Information: swfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/DigitalTwins20… Event Registration: DigitalTwins2026.eventbrite.com

Lauren Mathews and Amanda McVay participated in the 2026 APS Southern Division Meeting held March 9–11 in Athens, Georgia. Both presented their research as part of the Graduate Student Research Competition.

Brittney Monus was presented with her Superior Accomplishment Award in Gainesville on 3/11. She was one of 15 individuals or groups honored for the IFAS division. This award recognizes faculty and staff for their outstanding service.

A new study in Remote Sensing of Environment introduces SQuaP, an automated protocol co-developed with international partners to improve the quality of soil spectral data collected in the lab and from satellites. Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.… #RemoteSensing #SoilScience #UF

Researchers from across the U.S. gathered at UC Riverside for the annual NIFA Citrus Project Meeting, sharing HLB solutions. Dr. Ute Albrecht & Ph.D. student Larissa Nunes da Silva (UF/IFAS) presented on systemic trunk injection,and its commercial adoption for HLB management.

On February 26, Dr. Nikos Tziolas will be presenting at the Water Institute Seminar on “An Interactive Chat-Map Platform for Rapid, Uncertainty-Aware EO Insights.” Don’t miss this opportunity to explore cutting-edge tools for geospatial and environmental data analysis! #SWFREC

Excited to share that Giannis Gallios, PhD student at the Soil Science AI Lab, participated in a poster presentation at the AI Summit, showcasing innovative applications of AI in agriculture. #AI #Agriculture #SoilScience #Innovation #PhDResearch #FloridaAgriculture #SWFREC

Proud to see Giannis Gallios, PhD student at the Soil Science AI Lab, present on behalf of Dr. Nikos Tziolas at the AI Summit Lightning Talks: “Developing Trustworthy AI for Florida Agriculture.” Advancing AI to support smarter, sustainable farming! #AI #SWFREC #SoilScience

Spring Seminar Series with Dr. Nikolaos Tziolas on 25 February 2026 at 11:30 AM in the main auditorium at Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Wimauma, Balm. Register: forms.gle/Pw1c48vtgNvGed… more info contact Ankit (pokhrel.an@ufl.edu)

Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis delivered a keynote presentation this morning at the UF/IFAS Artificial Intelligence Summit. His talk, “Towards Autonomous and Intelligent Crop Management Using AI and Robotics,” highlighted how AI-driven automation is transforming agriculture.

Congratulations to Dr. Shukla on being named an ASABE Fellow—an outstanding and well-deserved achievement!

For more information, please visit Southwest Florida Research & Education Center - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS websit

FL Watermelon Association talks last week: weed scientist Dr. Ramdas Kanissery ("Herbicide Safety in Watermelon: Finding the Right Balance") and water resources engineer Dr. Sanjay Shukla ("Modifying Watermelon Bed Geometry for Increased Efficiency and Profitability")!

SWFREC hosted the Collier County Farm Bureau Annual Dinner and Meeting last night! Director Dr. Mike Burton welcomed the group and gave a brief overview about the center's ag research.

SWFREC staff and students are participating in a Worker Protection Standard Training for Ag Workers that's being led by facilities mechanic Roger McGill, a certified pesticide applicator.

Congratulations to Dr. Nina Charissa Infantado, who successfully defended her Ph.D! Her seminar: "Multi-omics and Biogeochemical Characterization of Microbial Soil Organic Carbon Degradation in Subtropical Peat Soils." Advisors include soil microbiologist Dr. Sarah Strauss.

Staff members from RCMA (Redlands Christian Migrant Association) in Immokalee enjoyed a trolley tour of the SWFREC farm this morning! Thanks to guide Tad Trimarco (postdoctoral associate) and tractor driver Roger McGill (facilities)!

SWFREC citrus horticulturist Dr. Fernando Alferez is presenting this month’s UF/IFAS Citrus Seminar via Zoom: “Combining IPCs and Brassinosteroids to Prolong Young Citrus Tree Health!”