Meet American Floral Endowment’s New Research Coordinator
September 9, 2022 
American Floral Endowment’s new Research Coordinator Laura Barth says she’s excited to bring her passion for science, communication, and education to AFE’s research initiatives.
One of the most important initiatives at American Floral Endowment (AFE) is its research funding, which shows the impacts of developing best practices and innovative ways to tackle industry challenges. This research guides the industry to new heights in sustainability, improved methods, and revolutionary discoveries.
To help facilitate this mission, AFE has expanded its team to include a new Research Coordinator, Laura Barth, who will assist with expanding research programs and communicating the findings.
With the recent expansion of new monthly research webinars and training resources, it was a priority to bring on expertise in these areas. AFE’s research provides the best and most current information and solutions to pressing issues in the industry. Barth will work alongside Dr. Terril Nell, AFE’s current Research Director of eight years, to pursue and disseminate this information through industry outreach, collaboration, and communications. This will include updates through AFE’s Grow Pro Webinar Series, Thrips & Botrytis Research Fund, and other training and resources.
“I am thrilled to work alongside Laura to address current and future industry challenges. Laura’s deep knowledge and enthusiasm for the field will make her an incredibly influential member of the AFE team,” Nell says. “Her industry and university connections will be an important asset to our work as we disseminate AFE’s important research and resources more regularly.”
In addition to overseeing the monthly webinars and training efforts, Barth will also be preparing articles and research processes from AFE-funded research and will serve as the liaison to AFE’s new Sustainability Initiative that was launched in July.
Barth received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from North Carolina State University (NCSU), where she worked on research projects in entomology, plant pathology, ornamental plant breeding, and horticultural substrates. After graduation, she was the Horticulture and Pathology Specialist at the American Chestnut Foundation before coming back to NCSU as an Extension Assistant. She develops and instructs online classes in partnership with Longwood Gardens. Not only that, she serves as the Digital Communications Director with the International Plant Propagator’s Society (Southern Region of North America) and is a contributor and consultant for DK (Penguin Random House), where she recently worked on two books in the DK GROW series.
Barth currently lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her partner Jimmy and their daughter Ossie, where they enjoy the many outdoor activities the area has to offer. Ossie loves playing at their neighbor’s organic vegetable farm and the local garden center, and often provides a little free labor by harvesting produce and pulling weeds – perhaps a future horticulturist in the making.
“I’m excited to bring my passion for science, communication, and education to AFE’s outstanding research initiatives in my role as Research Coordinator,” Barth says. “As a recipient of an AFE scholarship as a graduate student, I’m grateful for the opportunity to now have a career with the Endowment where I’m able to give back to the floriculture industry. I’m thrilled to be working alongside Dr. Nell and am looking forward to engaging with industry professionals, academics, and having my finger on the pulse of floriculture research.”
Subscribe to eNewsletter
