The UF’s Board of Trustees, on behalf of the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead have signed an agreement with the Northern Territory of Australia that allows for exchange of UF/IFAS scientists, faculty and students, as well as the sharing of technological knowledge, development of research projects.
The initiative’s objective is to let researchers stud and discuss vanilla, passionfruit and mangoes so they can identify shared strategic interests on the sustainable development of the fruits and crops. The MOU in in effect until July 2, 2022, when the agreement expires.
“We are excited by the new opportunities that will come out of this partnership,” Alan Chambers, plant geneticist at UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center vanilla research site told morningagclips.com. “We share many of the same challenges around tropical fruit production and expect to create synergy leading to benefit researchers, growers, and consumers alike. This collaboration will help advance tropical fruit production in Australia, the United States, and beyond. This includes research from horticulture to plant breeding.”