The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) is moving quickly to raise and direct research funds toward the industry’s latest plant health threat, boxwood blight. HRI has created the Emerging Issues and Technology Projects - Blight Fund (EITPBBF) as a vehicle for industry funding toward a coordinated and effective research effort, and the HRI Board of Trustees has adopted boxwood blight as a major topic for additional research funded by HRI and partners.
The Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association announced a $5,000 contribution to this HRI fund. HRI is seeking to leverage other industry funding as well as funds from other sources toward a coordinated effort that will involve scientists from various institutions. Also on the agenda for HRI and the American Nursery & Landscape Association are a series of coordinating calls with state and regional nursery and landscape association partners, ongoing interaction with federal and state regulators, and seeking insights into how the disease has been managed in Europe.
