A Plant
Introduction Program
for the Mid-Atlantic and beyond......
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A Plant
Introduction Program |
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383 Coal Hollow Road
540-382-0943
Email:
info@vnla.org For immediate release PRESS RELEASE Conev Selected as Director of Plant Introduction Program
The project will develop new varieties of ornamental plants adapted to regional landscapes in Virginia. The project will create production and marketing infrastructure and research-based technical and educational information that will boost ornamental horticulture output in the tobacco regions of Virginia. It is expected to create new jobs and opportunities for agricultural entrepreneurs and to provide profitable alternative agricultural businesses to tobacco production. Expanded nursery production and increased sales in both the wholesale and retail markets are anticipated. The program will establish ornamental plant demonstration sites in Southside and Southwest Virginia. As Director of the program, Conev’s duties include: § Supervising teams of Master Gardeners and other volunteers who will perform many of the on-site tasks; § Collecting data from the sites; § Maintaining lines of communication with the PIP Committee and the partner institutions; § Writing grant proposals and exploring funding sources for the project; § Developing propagation and liner production protocols using the IALR facilities and other resources managed by partners at Virginia Tech; § Assisting the Plant Selection Subcommittee in locating source of new germplasm; § Working with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the development of logos and related promotional materials and marketing plans; § Working with the faculty and staff at Virginia Tech to take advantage of new plant breeding and propagation technologies. Conev has extensive experience in horticulture with an emphasis on introduction and evaluation of woody plants. He has developed 23 projects related to plant introduction/evaluation in Canada, Bulgaria, Japan, Israel, Switzerland, and Spain. He has over 20 years of experience in plant introduction. Conev has a Ph.D. in Horticulture from the Agricultural University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. As a research horticulturist, Conev’s special interest is in germplasm evaluation, plant-environment interactions with an emphasis on plant adaptation potential. In addition to his academic and research qualifications, Conev has experience in providing seminars, workshops, writing articles and organizing promotional events. He has authored over 60 publications and taught courses at eight international symposia as well as at the university level. Most recently Conev was a research associate at the University of Guelph, Plant Agriculture, Vineland Ontario. VNLA Executive Director Jeff Miller, said “Conev is well qualified to direct the new program and brings many years of experience in plant introduction to the project. We look forward to his leadership on this new program that is so important to the Green Industry in Virginia.” When Conev begins work May 2nd, he will have an office in the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville. ### 30 ### |
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