Consumer Horticulture Advancement: Identifying Critical Research Areas and Cultivating Collaborations

Previous research focused on Consumer Horticulture Advancement: health and human issues in horticul- Identifying Critical Research Areas and ture (HIH) and established the beneficial role of plants and the practice of Cultivating Collaborations horticulture in a range of therapeutic, educational, and workplace settings 1 2 3 (Relf, 1992; Shoemaker et al., 1992; Natalie Bumgarner , Sheri Dorn , Esther McGinnis , Ulrich, 1984; Waliczek and Zajicek, Pam Bennett4, Ellen Bauske5, Sarada Krishnan6, 1999). This period of horticulture 7 research was built on both horticul- and Lucy Bradley tural therapy and environmental psychology. Positive health and well- ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. gardening, greenspace, health, nature, nutrition, well- being benefits have been shown to being reach varied populations, with effects on stress, productivity, attitude, con- SUMMARY. Many fields of research converge to assess the impact of plants on human centration, and cognitive performance health, well-being, and nutrition. However, evenwitharecenthistoryofhorticulturists contributing to human–plant interaction work, much of the current research is conducted being documented (Lohr et al., 1996; outside the context of horticulture and specifically outside of consumer horticulture Mooney and Nicell, 1992; Relf and (CH). To connect CH to research being conducted by other disciplines that explore the Dorn, 1995; Shoemaker et al., 1992). role of plants in improving human quality of life, a workshop was held on 1 Aug. 2018 in In recent years, CH scientists Washington, DC, at the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) annual have played a more limited role in conference. The workshop focused on current food science, nutrition, and crop-breeding research fields outside horticulture, efforts to enhance nutrition and flavor, and human health and well-being research related such as public health, that explore to nature and plant interactions in an increasingly urban population. Following these the impact of plants on people (Dorn presentations regarding potential research linkages and collaboration opportunities, et al., 2018). In light of the fact that a facilitated discussion identified ways to improve future CH research and foster collaborative work. Action items identified included connecting research and vocabulary to help CH, by definition, focuses on ‘‘the cultivate an interest in plants in younger generations; supporting awareness of collabo- cultivation, use, and enjoyment of rative opportunities with health, nutrition, urban planning, and public health practi- plants, gardens, landscapes and re- tioners; ensuring CH is known to administrators; and taking responsibility for initiating lated horticultural items to the benefit communication with colleagues in these areas. of individuals, communities, and the environment’’ (National Initiative for lluminating the many beneficial interdisciplinary study in a variety of Consumer Horticulture, 2018), this roles of plants in human lives, scientific fields. A large body of re- relative lack of involvement merits Idiets, and environments requires search addresses human–plant–nature intellectual consideration. interactions and includes contribu- Today’s science calls for inte- Received for publication 30 May 2019. Accepted for tions from medicine, public health, grated, collaborative research that publication 5 Sept. 2019. human nutrition, social science, and brings together researchers with ex- Published online 7 November 2019. environmental psychology (Bratman pertise in plant, nature, and health 1Plant Sciences Department, University of Tennessee, et al., 2015b; Bringslimark et al., fields to promote human well-being 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, 252 Ellington Plant Sci- 2009; de Vries et al., 2003; Dorn and environmental sustainability within ences, Knoxville, TN 37996 et al., 2018; Goldman, 2014; Kaplan thecontextofincreasinglyurbanpop- 2Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, ulations. Interestingly, CH scientists, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223 and Kaplan, 1989; Simon, 2014) as who focus on the science of plants as 3Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State well as early work in this field by University, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108 horticulturists (Lohr and Relf, 2000; they relate to people, have not estab- 4Ohio State University Extension, Clark County, Lohr et al., 1996; Relf, 1990, 1992; lished consistent collaborations with 3130 E. Main Street, Springfield, OH 45505 Relf and Lohr, 2003; Shoemaker social scientists or public health re- 5Department of Plant Pathology, University of Geor- et al., 1992). Recent research has searchers, as evidenced by the few gia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223 been summarized here to provide an coauthorships in research journals out- 6Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street, Denver, overview of the physical, mental, and side horticulture (Dorn et al., 2018). CO 80206 social benefits of human interaction Most CH scientists have been trained 7Department of Horticultural Science, North Caro- lina State University, Campus Box 7609, Kilgore Hall with plants, nature, and green envi- as plant scientists or production horti- 128, 2721 Founders Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695 ronments (Bowler et al., 2010; culturists, so partnering with agricul- This paper is based on the Workshop titled ‘‘The Cameron, 2014; de Vries et al., 2013; tural or horticultural scientists to National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture: Iden- Hartig et al., 2014; Keniger et al., conduct research is a more natural tifying and Cultivating Consumer Horticulture Re- search Relationships’’ presented on 1 Aug. 2018 2013; Lohr, 2011; Thompson, 2011; fit. Although research collaborations during the 2018 American Society for Horticultural van den Berg and van den Berg, 2015). in human nutrition and public health Science annual conference in Washington, DC. Additional research explores crop appear promising as a result of the N.B. is the corresponding author. E-mail: nbumgarn@ breeding, traditional food production, increasing recognition and integra- utk.edu. and economics, as well as public health tion of plants and nature in human This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/ and consumer perspectives (Bliss, 1999; health and well-being studies (Hartig licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Goldman, 2014; Hansson et al., 2018; et al., 2014; Lohr, 2011), few CH https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04422-19 Patil et al., 2014). scientists have developed research • December 2019 29(6) 769 WORKSHOP partnerships with social scientists out- Consumer Horticulture Research Re- breeding was to make production side the fields of horticulture. lationships. About 20 extension spe- and processing simpler and more prof- A lack of understanding of the cialists, professors, and graduate itable (Caligari, 1992). Potato breed- role of CH in social science fields students attended. The objective of ing objectives included increased may be explained, at least in part, by the workshop was to set the stage yield, decreased maturity time, toler- the general public’s narrow view of with a review of existing research, ance to environmental stresses, tuber the field. Doyle and Kelleher (2009) and then promote discussion, collab- shape and color, storage longevity, state that ‘‘limiting the term horti- oration, and action. processing characteristics, and resis- culture to the popularist under- Presentations explored potential tance to common diseases (Caligari, standing of just a gardening activity research collaborations within as well 1992). Although these are all valuable fails to encompass the enormity of as outside of agriculture. Dr. Esther and environmentally sustainable ob- the impact that horticulture has on McGinnis, Department of Plant Sci- jectives, consumers’ desires were individuals, communities, and soci- ences, North Dakota State Univer- secondary. ety.’’ Horticulture itself appears to sity, summarized food science, plant Low vegetable consumption be confronting an identity crisis be- breeding, and human nutrition re- should alarm the horticulture indus- cause many plant enthusiasts, espe- search efforts that could be expanded tryfrombothapublichealthandan cially the young, do not connect by working with CH scientists. Dr. economic perspective (Simon, 2014). their interest in plants with the prac- Natalie Bumgarner, Plant Sciences Horticultural crops that are rich in tice of horticulture (Garden Media Department, University of Tennes- antioxidants and phytonutrients can Group, 2014). Combined with this see, and Ms. Sheri Dorn, Department decrease the potential for chronic con- changing terminology is the chal- of Horticulture, University of Geor- ditions such as diabetes, some cancers, lenge of plant blindness, which is gia, explored potential collaborative and heart disease (Simon, 2014; Stein- the inability to see plants in our opportunities in human health and metz and Potter, 1996). Despite vig- environments. First defined in a pub- well-being. The workshop concluded orous marketing, the Centers for lication of the American Botanical with a facilitated discussion, led by Disease Control estimate that fewer Society (Wandersee and Schussler, Ms. Pam Bennett, Ohio State Uni- than 10% of Americans consume the 2001), this problem continues un- versity Extension, on research needs, recommended daily amount of vege- abated, with even biological scientists opportunities for collaboration, and tables (Lee-Kwan et al., 2017). The struggling to identify common plants

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