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The Project

Resilient systems for Sustainable Management of Cucurbit Crops

 

With the support of USDA-OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension) Initiative, "Resilient Systems for Sustainable Management of Cucurbit Crops" research project comes to life, with the main goal of validate a set of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies, to address the most important problems faced by organic-cucurbit growers in the US.

 

When talking about IPM, we can think of several outcomes from the decisions growers have to do, that's why this project's objectives focus on both technical and socio-economic issues. Our primary goal, from a longterm point of view, is to enable organic cucurbit growers in the South, Midwest and Northwest to:

  1. Control major insect pests and diseases all season to ensure consistently high marketable yield and profitability of organic cucurbits.
  2. Protect pollinators and natural-enemy insects by eliminating the need for insecticide use.
  3. Suppress weeds while enhancing soil health attributes.
  4. Gain additional flexibility in disease management through diverse biological control options.

 


 

Project's objectives are:

  1. Optimize pollination and weed control while controlling major pests and diseases in full-season mesotunnels to ensure consistently high marketable yield and profitability of organic cucurbit production.

  2. Evaluate the effectiveness of biological control as part of a portfolio of options for disease management in organic cucurbit production.

  3. Assess economic and social value and acceptability of mesotunnel systems and biological control, and ensure grower-scientist communication to produce useable science and technologies.

  4. Outreach: Share the most promising new production systems with organic cucurbit growers, extension professionals, and crop advisers through diverse face-to-face and electronic outreach initiatives.

 

Project's objectives
Overview of project goals, objectives, and outcomes.