Speakers
Growing vanilla in new geographies - insights from Florida, USA
Alan Chambers, PhD,
KeyGene USA/University of Florida
The risks associated with geographically concentrated production of vanilla beans are well documented. As frustration builds with the current system, many are looking for alternative sources for quality vanilla beans. As a result, vanilla is increasingly attractive to domestic growers, especially in Florida. V. planifolia is native to North and Central America, and has been documented in Florida since before 1900. Today, domestic vanilla cultivation has the potential to support growers in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico that are striving to meet an evolving consumer base favoring local, organic, and natural products. Vanilla is somewhat unique in that the species has not been domesticated through plant improvement, and today’s international industry relies on cultivated, wild clones. Since 2016, the vanilla collection at the University of Florida has increased to ~300 vanilla accessions with thousands of seedlings being grown for trialing. The extension effort has connected with over 100 growers in southern Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands that are interested in commercial vanilla production. Internationally, we have collaborated with scientists around the world to genotype vanilla plants from over 17 countries. Our genomic and trait research has identified novel and odd traits that could be used to improve commercial quality vanilla clones. This presentation will summarize learnings from adapting vanilla cultivation to the unique agricultural mosaic in southern Florida from early failures to preliminary successes.
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Dr. Alan H Chambers is currently the Director of Applied Plant Breeding Innovation at KeyGene USA. Most of his research includes supporting innovation for 3rd party client projects for a range of crop species throughout North, Central, and South America. From 2016 to 2022, he led the Tropical Fruit Genetics and Breeding lab at the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center. During his time at UF, Dr. Chambers advanced vanilla science through international collaborations that defined vanilla species using genomics including the publication of the first vanilla genomes. His work also included the development of domestic vanilla cultivation in southern Florida, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Hawaii.
Dr. Chambers has degrees from Brigham Young University (Genetics and Biotechnology, BS), Cornell University (Plant Pathology, MS), and the University of Florida (Horticultural Sciences, PhD). He was recruited by PepsiCo Agro Discovery after the completion of his PhD in February 2014 to support raw material innovation research.