By Blake Jackson
The Center for Plant Excellence has awarded an additional $241,903 in grants for the 2025-26 funding cycle, increasing the total number of projects funded through its inaugural grant program to 26.
The new awards were approved after the center’s board of directors reviewed top-ranked applications submitted during its first request for proposals.
Created through a partnership involving the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State Extension, and industry representatives, the Center for Plant Excellence aims to strengthen Pennsylvania’s diverse plant industries.
These industries, which include floriculture, hardwoods, specialty crops, and hemp, contribute more than $52 billion annually to the state’s economy.
The center supports innovation, workforce development, and applied research through competitive grants that address industry challenges and opportunities.
Track A: Research for Plant Industry Advancement
The following projects received funding to advance research and improve plant production systems across Pennsylvania:
- Weavers Way Farms and W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences, Philadelphia ($22,255) - Researching fig varieties and production methods suited to changing climate conditions.
- Delaware Valley University, Doylestown ($24,744) - Establishing vineyard soil health benchmarks to help growers improve management decisions.
- Penn State Department of Food Science, University Park ($30,000) - Exploring the use of spent mushroom compost as a sustainable alternative to peat-based growing media.
- Penn State Plant Disease Clinic, University Park ($30,000) - Enhancing plant disease detection through advanced molecular diagnostic tools.
Track B: Plant Industry Career Development
Funding was also awarded to programs focused on workforce training and career development:
- Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
- Ambler Arboretum of Temple University
- Chester County Intermediate Unit
- Hemp-Alternative, LLC
- John J. Tyler Arboretum
- Laurel Hill Cemetery and Arboretum
- Natural Lands Trust
- Nueva Esperanza Housing and Economic Development
- Grow Pittsburgh
- The Oasis Project
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (SCI Dallas)
- AgvoKate
- Trellis for Tomorrow
- Truelove Seeds
- Wilmington Area School District
These initiatives will provide internships, agricultural education, conservation training, workforce development opportunities, and hands-on horticultural experience, helping prepare the next generation of professionals for careers across Pennsylvania’s growing plant industry.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Pennsylvania, Education, Government & Policy