A Force of Nature

On a windy day in March, a group of leaders in Pennsylvania's plant industries gathered in a bright greenhouse at the Penn State Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Manheim to announce an initiative years in the making.

"You can't talk about Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania agriculture without plants," said Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. "They are all around us—on our front lawns, in our landscapes and nurseries. They are part of our name as a state, Penn's Woods. They are what feed our livestock and our families."

The occasion was the launch of the Center for Plant Excellence, a partnership among the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State Extension, and industry leaders.

Backed by a $500,000 investment from the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro, the center is aimed at advancing research, innovation, and business growth across the state's plant-based agricultural sectors.

From tree fruit and vegetables to hardwoods, grains, hemp, floriculture, vineyards, and Christmas trees, these sectors contribute more than $52 billion annually to Pennsylvania's economy. But they also face mounting pressures.

"Plant industries are facing unprecedented challenges," said Troy Ott, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. "Pests and diseases, including the spotted lanternfly, are on the rise. Labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are driving up costs. And consumer preferences are changing, forcing the industry to adapt quickly."

Ott described the Center for Plant Excellence as a proactive investment in research, industry collaboration, and extension education.

"Penn State is the research and development arm for agriculture in the state," he said. "But it is meaningless if we're not taking that research and transmitting it to people and industry. We do that through Penn State Extension."

Jeffrey Hyde, director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences, added that extension is about access: "Through this center, we can ensure that knowledge and resources flow where they are needed most, strengthening the entire plant ecosystem."

Industry Perspective

Pennsylvania has about 17 million acres of forestland, most of it privately owned. Kenny Kane, of Generations Forestry, represents the hardwoods sector on the center's board and has seen firsthand how markets and forest practices evolve. He grew up in Kane, Pennsylvania—then home to 13 sawmills.

"Now there's one sawmill," Kane said. "The forest products industry contributes over $30 billion annually and supports more than 66,000 jobs. Time, money, and research in this industry are critical."

Kane noted that every sector that will be supported by the Center for Plant Excellence is dealing with constant change, including new invasive pests and plants. When he was a Penn State student 15 years ago, the emerald ash borer was just emerging.

"Now our ash component has almost disappeared," he said. "But new research from the Midwest suggests we may have a future ash population. Those are the kinds of developments I'm eager to explore through this center."

Solving Problems Together

For Miranda Harple, interim director of the Center for Plant Excellence, the initiative is about strengthening connections.

"The Center for Plant Excellence represents a long-term commitment to the future of Pennsylvania's plant industries," Harple said. "Each sector faces its own pressures, but challenges rarely exist in isolation. What impacts one sector often ripples through another."

Harple speaks from personal experience. She and her husband, first-generation apple growers, learned early that farming requires community.

Among those guiding the new Center for Plant Excellence are, from left, Carla Snyder, associate state program leader, Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development with Penn State Extension; Carla Garzon, K.H. Littlefield Endowed Professor of Plant Science, Delaware Valley University, and a member of the board of directors; and Miranda Harple, interim director, and marketing and business development education specialist, Penn State Extension. Photo: Miranda Harple.

"We didn't have family to call on, but we had neighbors who loaned us tools, growers who shared knowledge generously, and friends who helped us through those first seasons," she said.

Experiencing that network shaped her view of agricultural economies in Pennsylvania.

"Success depends on our connection, collaboration, and shared knowledge," she said. "That's exactly what this center is about: bringing industries together so that we can make the plant economy more resilient."

In its first year, the center is focusing on building connections, setting priorities, and ensuring its work delivers tangible benefits. With input from stakeholders and its board, the center will identify key research areas where investment will have the most impact.

Funding Priorities and First Steps

To jump-start innovation, the center is offering $125,000 in grant funding through its inaugural request for proposals. Board members have identified four priority areas: managing invasive pests and diseases, building a future-ready workforce, improving business resilience and innovation, and expanding industry visibility.

"We're seeking proposals that conduct applied research and offer practical solutions, especially those that address on-the-ground responses to pest and disease threats," Harple said.

The Right Leader for the Job

Redding noted just how much society expects from plants."They're expected to be there when we need them for food, for renewable energy, in our parks, for recreation and decoration," he said. "Make your list of where plants show up in our lives, and it's all things we want this new center to be involved in."

Finding the right leader was crucial, he added. Many sectors offered to take the helm, but the goal was to create something broad and inclusive.

"That's why we were intentional with Penn State," Redding said. "They have the reach, the history, the partnerships, and an amazing network of researchers and teams across the state to address these challenges."

Ott emphasized the benefit of having industry leaders directly involved in shaping research priorities.

"The board will bring forward the most pressing problems, which will focus our faculty's work," he said. "Our faculty, both in extension and in research, benefit from the perspectives of stakeholders to make sure that we're addressing the problems that are affecting Pennsylvania."

On that blustery day in March, surrounded by colorful plants on long rows of tables, Redding said: "I feel better just stepping into the greenhouse. It's refreshing. It also reminds us that before you harvest something, you've got to plant something."

By Alexandra McLaughlin