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The American Floral Endowment has scheduled an Oct. 20, 2026, Grow Pro webinar on using bioreactors to reduce agrochemicals in agricultural production water. Michigan State University professor Tom Fernandez is the featured speaker; the source describes the webinar’s planned topics but does not report results from a specific bioreactor project.
The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has scheduled a Grow Pro webinar for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, on using bioreactors to reduce agrochemicals in agricultural production water. The session will feature Dr. Tom Fernandez of Michigan State University and is intended to cover system design, microbial contaminant breakdown, regulatory compliance and startup strategies for growers.
The webinar, titled “Bioreactors for Reduction of Agrochemicals in Agricultural Production Water,” is part of AFE’s ongoing Grow Pro series. According to the event information published by Greenhouse Grower, the session will explain how microbial communities can break down contaminants and how woodchip-based bioreactors work. It will also address ways to improve system effectiveness and reduce startup time.
Fernandez is a professor at Michigan State University, where he teaches Landscape Plant Identification and Nursery Management. His research and Extension program focus on water quality and management for nursery production. The source also notes his interest in using RFID to support precision agriculture in container production.
AFE says participants can register through Zoom or the Grow Pro webinar series page on its website. That page also lists information about future sessions, while recordings of past Grow Pro webinars are available on AFE’s YouTube channel. The available announcement does not state a registration deadline, session length or whether participation will be limited.
Why Production Water Treatment Matters
Production water quality can affect growers’ operations, and the announcement presents bioreactors as a possible tool for reducing agrochemicals in that water. AFE says the session will connect contaminant breakdown with water quality, operating costs and crop protection. It also plans to address compliance, a practical concern for operations managing water and agricultural chemicals.
The event is an educational opportunity, not evidence that a particular treatment system has achieved a measured reduction or saved growers money. Its relevance will depend on the technical guidance Fernandez provides and how well the approaches discussed apply to different production settings. The source does not identify specific chemicals, performance figures or operating conditions.
AFE’s Grow Pro Webinar Series
The webinar is being offered as concerns about water security prompt growers to consider how production water is managed and treated. AFE’s Grow Pro series provides sessions for the horticulture industry; the Oct. 20 event focuses specifically on bioreactors and agricultural production water rather than presenting a new regulation or a reported research result.
Fernandez’s university research and Extension work centers on nursery water quality and management, giving the session a connection to production issues. The source does not describe the evidence base or specific bioreactor systems he will discuss beyond identifying woodchip-based systems as a topic.
Details Awaiting the Webinar
The announcement does not provide measured treatment results, the contaminants or agrochemicals that a system can address, or the conditions under which the approach is effective. It also does not specify installation costs, maintenance needs, system scale or how long startup typically takes. Those details may be covered during the presentation, but they are not established in the source material.
It remains unclear whether the webinar will include a recording, a question-and-answer session or continuing education credit. The source says past sessions are recorded and available on YouTube, but it does not confirm how the Oct. 20 event will be handled.
Registration and Session Information
Growers interested in attending can check AFE’s Grow Pro webinar page or register through Zoom. AFE’s series page is also the stated place to find information about future sessions. Participants should consult the registration listing for current access details and any updates before the event.
After the webinar, AFE’s YouTube channel is the source identified for recordings of past sessions. Whether this session will be posted there, and when, has not been confirmed in the announcement.
Key Questions
When is the bioreactor webinar?
It is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, as part of AFE’s Grow Pro series.
Who is speaking?
The featured speaker is Dr. Tom Fernandez, a Michigan State University professor whose research and Extension program focus on water quality and management for nursery production.
What will the session cover?
Planned topics include microbial contaminant breakdown, how woodchip-based bioreactors work, regulatory compliance, system effectiveness and startup time.
Where can people register?
The announcement says participants can register through Zoom or the Grow Pro webinar page on the American Floral Endowment website.
Does the announcement show that bioreactors reduce agrochemicals by a specific amount?
No. It describes the webinar’s subject and planned topics but gives no measured reduction, performance figures or cost data.
Source: rss
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