{"id":280401,"date":"2026-05-22T04:07:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T04:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/280401\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T04:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T04:07:16","slug":"famu-entomologist-honored-for-advancing-sustainable-pest-management-education-across-the-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/280401\/","title":{"rendered":"FAMU Entomologist Honored for Advancing Sustainable Pest Management Education Across the South"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">National recognition highlights the growing importance of Integrated Pest Management<br \/>\n                              amid rising pest pressures nationwide<\/p>\n<p>Tallahassee, Fla.\u2014May 13, 2026\u2014Florida A&amp;M University (FAMU) faculty member Muhammad Haseeb, Ph.D., has received the 2026 Friends of IPM \u201cIPM Educator\u201d Award, a national honor<br \/>\n                        recognizing long-term excellence in teaching and advancing Integrated Pest Management<br \/>\n                        (IPM) practices across the Southern region.<\/p>\n<p>An associate professor of entomology in FAMU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cafs.famu.edu\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">College of Agriculture and Food Sciences<\/a> (FAMU CAFS) and director of the Center for Biological Control, Haseeb has been recognized<br \/>\n                        for more than two decades of leadership in educating students, growers, extension<br \/>\n                        professionals, exchange scholars, and communities on sustainable pest management strategies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Haseeb\u2019s work demonstrates how research, education, and community engagement<br \/>\n                        can directly support agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability,\u201d said<br \/>\n                        G. Dale Wesson, Ph.D., dean, FAMU CAFS. \u201cAs an 1890 land-grant institution, FAMU has a responsibility<br \/>\n                        to deliver research-based solutions that address real-world challenges impacting farmers,<br \/>\n                        communities, and food systems. His contributions reflect that mission in action.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Addressing a Growing National Challenge<\/p>\n<p>The recognition comes at a critical time, as agricultural producers and communities<br \/>\n                        nationwide face increasing pest pressures linked to warmer temperatures, the expansion<br \/>\n                        of invasive species, and shifting environmental conditions. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatehubs.usda.gov\/taxonomy\/term\/400?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a> has warned that rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are increasing<br \/>\n                        the distribution and severity of insects, weeds, plant and animal diseases affecting<br \/>\n                        agricultural systems across the country.<\/p>\n<p>Integrated Pest Management is a science-based approach that combines biological, cultural,<br \/>\n                        physical, and targeted control methods to manage pests while minimizing environmental,<br \/>\n                        economic, and social risks. Rather than relying solely on chemical treatments, IPM<br \/>\n                        emphasizes pest monitoring, prevention, and sustainable decision-making.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Dr. Hasseb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1024x768_Hasseb1.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Haseeb working at FAMU Research and Extension Center (REC) in Quincy, Florida.\" width=\"822\" height=\"617\"\/>Muhammad Haseeb, Ph.D., working at FAMU Research and Extension Center (REC) in Quincy,<br \/>\n                              Florida, observing a newly introduced species of two-spot cotton leafhopper, a serious<br \/>\n                              invasive pest of specialty crops in Fall 2025. (Photo special to FAMU)<\/p>\n<p>Advancing Sustainable Agriculture Through Research and Education<\/p>\n<p>Haseeb specializes in pest management for economically important specialty crops,<br \/>\n                        including blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. These commodities are<br \/>\n                        economically important throughout the South. His teaching and outreach efforts focus<br \/>\n                        on helping growers identify pests early, implement biological controls, and make data-informed<br \/>\n                        management decisions that reduce unnecessary pesticide use.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIntegrated Pest Management is ultimately about helping communities make informed,<br \/>\n                        sustainable decisions that protect crops, natural resources, and public health,\u201d said<br \/>\n                        Haseeb. \u201cThrough teaching, research, and extension outreach, our goal is to equip<br \/>\n                        students and agricultural stakeholders with practical, science-based strategies that<br \/>\n                        can address both current pest challenges and emerging threats facing our food systems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For more than 24 years, Haseeb has supported FAMU\u2019s land-grant mission through teaching,<br \/>\n                        applied research, and extension engagement. He teaches undergraduate and graduate<br \/>\n                        courses centered on pest identification, biological control, pest monitoring, and<br \/>\n                        sustainable agricultural practices using hands-on, problem-solving instruction.<\/p>\n<p>Preparing the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders<\/p>\n<p>Many of his former students now serve in leadership positions within extension systems,<br \/>\n                        state agencies, and private industry, where they continue implementing IPM strategies<br \/>\n                        in agricultural and environmental settings. Jermaine Perier, Ph.D., a former student, shared that Hasseeb\u2019s teaching effectively prepared him<br \/>\n                        for the workforce. He is now an assistant professor at Mississippi State University\u2019s<br \/>\n                        Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Haseeb\u2019s vision for pest management challenged us to think beyond simply treating<br \/>\n                        insect pests and instead encouraged an understanding of the full agricultural ecosystem<br \/>\n                        for long-term management,\u201d said Perier. \u201cThrough his mentorship, many of us learned<br \/>\n                        how to lead with science-based approaches that support growers, serve the public,<br \/>\n                        and promote environmental sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1024x768_Hasseb2.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Haseeb and a graduate student.\" width=\"822\" height=\"617\"\/>Muhammad Haseeb, Ph.D., and graduate student, Sandreika Laird, observing hemp inflorescence<br \/>\n                              for insect pollinators at FAMU, REC in Quincy, Florida, Fall 2025. (Photo special<br \/>\n                              to FAMU)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the classroom, Haseeb has led workshops, scientific symposia, and field demonstrations<br \/>\n                        for growers, extension agents, and Master Gardeners throughout the region. He has<br \/>\n                        also developed bilingual educational materials designed to expand access to research-based<br \/>\n                        pest management information across diverse agricultural communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A Lasting Impact in the Southern Region<\/p>\n<p>The Friends of IPM Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional<br \/>\n                        dedication to advancing Integrated Pest Management education and encouraging the adoption<br \/>\n                        of sustainable pest management practices throughout the Southern region.<\/p>\n<p>Haseeb\u2019s scholarly and outreach portfolio includes 93 publications, including 74 peer-reviewed<br \/>\n                        research articles and 19 extension and outreach publications.<\/p>\n<p>Media Contact:<\/p>\n<p>Rachel James-Terry<br \/>Senior Director of Strategic Communications<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.famu.edu\/2026\/mailto:rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Deidre Williams<br \/>Director of Communications, Academic Affairs<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/news.famu.edu\/2026\/mailto:deidre.williams@famu.edu\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">deidre.williams@famu.edu<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>                     <a class=\"back__button\" href=\"https:\/\/news.famu.edu\/index.php\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Back to Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"National recognition highlights the growing importance of Integrated Pest Management amid rising pest pressures nationwide Tallahassee, Fla.\u2014May 13,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":280402,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[232,234,233],"class_list":["post-280401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee-headlines","tag-tallahassee-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}