CEA HERB Team Announces New Research Grant and Stakeholder Meeting

CEA HERB | Michigan State University (MSU)

In 2022, the team Controlled Environment Agriculture Herb Extension & Research Base (CEA HERB) project received a four-year grant from the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to evaluate the profitability and environmental sustainability of fresh-cut and potted culinary herbs produced in controlled environment. The project is led by Roberto Lopez, in the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Horticulture. Other participating MSU researchers are Bridget Behe and Erik Runkle, professors in the Department of Horticulture, and Mary Hausbeck, a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences. Other researchers and Extension specialists include Kellie Walters in the Department of Plant Sciences and Alicia Rihn in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee, Brian Whipker in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University, Christopher Currey in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University, Angela Shaw in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, and Jennifer Boldt in the Application Technology Research Unit at the USDA-ARS.     

Current and prospective herb growers are invited to join the CEA HERB project team at its annual stakeholder meeting to discuss and share results from the project. This meeting will be hosted by Chris Currey at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Please register for the meeting ASAP as space is limited to 75 attendees. 

At this meeting, the team will share results of the various experiments and outreach efforts and seek feedback and input for future work. For those on the Advisory Committee, the team will seek specific feedback on the accomplishments and activities to date, and suggestions for future research and outreach activities. 

CEA HERB Annual Meeting – Event Details:

Dates: Sept. 11 to 13, 2024 

Location: Ames, IA (closest airport is Des Moines, IA) 

Hotel: The Gateway Hotel and Conference Center

Meeting location: Reiman Gardens

CEA HERB Annual Meeting – Tentative Topics: 

• Nutrient Disorders of Culinary Herbs – Brian Whipker 
• Tools for Managing Diseases on Herbs – Mary Hausbeck 
• Managing pH in Recirculating Hydroponic Systems – Christopher Currey 
• Non-Chemical Height Control Strategies for Potted Herbs – Roberto Lopez 
• The Value of Carbon Dioxide Injection – Jennifer Boldt 
• Indoor Young Plant Culinary Herb Production – Erik Runkle 
• Tips for Germinating Culinary Herbs – Kellie Walters 
• Food Safety Regulations for Potted and Fresh Cut Herbs – Angela Shaw 
• Adding Value to Domestically Grown Culinary Herbs – Alica Rhin and Bridget Behe