FFVA honors Nathan Boyd as 2022 Researcher of the Year

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association presented Nathan Boyd with its 2022 Researcher of the Year Award.

The award was presented during FFVA’s 78th annual convention at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla.

The Researcher of the Year Award is given to deserving individuals who have dedicated themselves and their work to improving Florida agriculture, according to a news release.

Boyd is a professor and associate center director at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma. A gifted researcher, Boyd’s focus has been on the development of integrated weed management programs for small fruits and vegetables, in addition to enhancing the industry’s understanding of weed biology, according to the release.

“Through his extension work and research on integrated weed management programs, Dr. Nathan Boyd has made advancements resulting in major impacts to Florida agriculture,” Elizabeth Malek, Lipman Family Farms crop protection assistant manager and FFVA Research Committee chair, said in the release. “He has developed an excellent reputation for himself among his colleagues and growers across the state, making him an asset to the industry. Dr. Boyd is highly deserving of this prestigious award.”

Boyd joined the University of Florida in 2012. He has published more than 70 online extension documents and 15 fact sheets focused on weed management with herbicides and has conducted over 25 on-farm trials to demonstrate herbicide efficacy for Florida growers, according to the release. Boyd developed, patented and evaluated technology capable for applying preemergence herbicides in plasticulture systems before and after transplant.