RESEARCH GRANTS 

Each November the Research Committee of the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers reaches out to researchers for Research Grant Proposals for the upcoming year.  Grants are funded every March for that current year.  The CANERS Foundation...Endowment for Research and Scholarship is the funding arm for both research grants and scholarships.

If you are not receiving the request for proposal, be sure to email chris@cgfa.org and ask that your name be placed on the Master Researcher's List.  Submit your full name, title, name of university/college or other, address, phone number and email address

Research projects pertinent to the production, post-harvest handling and marketing of nursery crops key to our industry.  Nursery crops include shrubs and trees produced in containers, field grown deciduous trees and rose bushes, annual bedding plants, foliage and flowering pot plants, sod and succulent plants.

Grants are made for specific research projects that deal with propagation; production systems; culture, including irrigation and fertilization; soil mixes, insect, disease, and weed control; energy conservation; mechanization; post-harvest handling and transportation and marketing. 

PROJECTS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE INDUSTRY

Sudden Oak Death: Diagnostics  (simple, fast, accurate); Treatment protocol for Phytophthora ramorum (soil remediation, water disinfection…), and 3, and Risk analysis at the retail level.

Weed Control: Nematodes and weed control in field grown and containerized stock without methyl bromide; Sterilization of potting media, Weed Control in the Nursery Industry.

Exotic Pests Management/Control: Weed management, Insects, mites and Insect vectors (GWSS, RIFA, ACP, whitefly, Diaprepes root weevil, LBAM…), Exotic and emerging pests and diseases of immediate concern, Response plan to exotic pests in the urban incubator – especially early detection.

Irrigation and Evapotranspiration: Control of Irrigation and Storm Run off, Evapotranspiration rates in new landscapes. Evapotranspiration standards throughout the state of California, Improving irrigation efficiency in irrigation in the landscape, Comparative value of landscape plants, i.e. improvements of the environment and reduction of water use.

Miscellaneous Issues: Interpretation of lab reports (tissue analysis) as they pertain to field and container nursery production, Disease Management, Making nurseries environmentally friendly.  “Green Wholesale Nursery,” Validation of regulatory standards, Facilitation of intrastate, interstate and international shipment of nursery stock. (Not SOD specific).

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION

Proposals for project funding are invited from qualified researchers at universities and colleges and other research institutions.

Projects will usually be funded at the rate of $1,000 to $15,000 per year for 1-3 years.

Grants will not include administrative overhead, support of principal investigators' salary, or capital expenditures.

CANGC research grants can be “seed money” to assist in the purchasing of supplies and the gathering in of other funding.

Projects that provide for rapid translation of results into nursery practice will receive high consideration.
 

SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL

As a researcher, please make sure you are on our Master Researcher List will guarantee that you will receive notice in the fall of the availability of research grants from CANERS.  You will receive all of the instructions with that email.   

CONSIDER SUBMITTING PROPOSAL TO THE HORTICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE…the endowment of the American Nursery and Landscape Association. If you are interested in applying to HRI for the possibility of additional funding please, go to ANLA's website, http://www.anla.org click on the Research button and apply there. In the last few years only two research proposals were submitted from California! The HRI fund is over $10 million and we hope you will consider applying directly to HRI.

 

2011 RESEARCH PROJECT AWARDS AND THE RESEARCHER

Lorence R. Oki: Removal of pathogens and pests from irrigation runoff using slow sand &
vegetated filters

Karrie Reid: Continuing evaluation of the water usage and climate control zone tolerance of
ornamental plants for sustainable landscapes

Heiner Lieth: Feasibility and horticultural application of a low-energy, photovoltaic greenhouse for
California nursery operations during the summer

Steve Tjosvold: Effect of fungicides and biocontrol agents on sporulation and persistence of Phytophthora ramorum on nursery hosts

Dr. Edward Caswell-Chen: The role of terrestrial mollusks in movement and vectoring of plant-parasites