Biodegradable Plastic Mulches for Specialty Crop Production Closing Remarks ASHS Colloquium, August 1, 2011, Miami, FL

With special thanks… o Colloquium speakers o ASHS organizers o USDA AFRI SCRI program o Audience participants o SCRI-SREP project team on Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers (Ref. No )

Biodegradable mulches… Agriculture has the opportunity to take a leadership role in: o Product development o Product break-down o Product standards o Versatility in field applications o Alternative methods of disposal o Environmental impacts o Consumer awareness

Trans-disciplinary approaches will continue to be critically important in future research & extension efforts Crops: Entomologists Horticulturists Plant pathologists Weed scientists Materials: Biosystems engineers Chemical engineers Polymer scientists Textile scientists Socio-Economic: Economists Sociologists Soils: Env. Biophysicists Soil chemists Soil ecologists Soil microbiologists

Mulch manufacturers Mulch distributors Mulch users (growers/others) Unique partnerships will continue to be critically important in future research & extension efforts

Non-biased information will continue to be critically important in future research & extension efforts Nat’l outreach Performance across diverse environments Establishment of standards

Future Biodegradable Mulch topics… Meeting organic production requirements Setting standards for biodegradation, in soil and in composting Understanding the risks and benefits of carbon emissions during microbial break-down Unexpected, new, and versatile uses Using ‘targeted’ microbial degraders