Take this grower survey

A team of researchers from across the U.S. are collaborating on a project focused on emerging contaminants, especially identifying microplastics and plastic by-products release into on- or off-site water, to determine (1) if plastics are an issue, (2) help find ways to reduce their impact, or (3) identify nursery and greenhouse production can be part of the solution by remediating plastics from surface water.

They are asking for your help by completing a short survey designed to identify what you think about this issue, if it is a concern (why and why not), and to identify research needed. Click here to take the survey.

Their team is currently:

1. collecting water samples from around the U.S. to reveal the scope and size of emerging contaminates. 
2. conducting listening sessions with growers and the scientific community to determine levels of awareness regarding emerging contaminants. 
3. conducting this survey to determine how industry professionals, academics, and regulators across the U.S. feel about this issue

Your help is essential as they strive to obtain preliminary scientific and social data needed to inform future research proposals. Information from this survey will enable research and subsequent outreach efforts that will ensure the greenhouse and nursery industry is as aware, prepared and responsive to emerging contaminants. Simultaneously they will ensure that the “green” industry continues to protect our most precious resource: fresh water.

If you have any questions, concerns or want to help disseminate the grower survey (https://tinyurl.com/2w2496r9) to your local/regional stakeholders, please email Dr. Alexa Lamm, Professor of Science Communication at the University of Georgia at alamm@uga.edu. Please contact Dr. Jim Owen, Research Horticulturist, USDA ARS Application Technology Research Unit at jim.owen@usda.gov if you are a stakeholder wanting to anonymously participate in water collection and analysis.