Location
7055 33rd Street, Vero Beach, FL 32966
Map to Florida Research CenterFacility
The center is located on 35 acres of citrus groves in the heart
of Florida's Indian River Citrus District.
Office
Office personnel discussing daily matters.
Staff
Robert C. "Bob" Adair, Jr. is the executive director of FLARES, which he established in 2004.
Bob has an extensive background in agricultural research and sustainable agriculture as well as experience in citrus production, biochemistry and farming. His research topics include bio-control strategies for the citrus root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus, foliar fertilizers, and the use of natural based bio-stimulants such as seaweed extracts, alpha-keto acids, humates, and fermentation products to increase plant vigor, pest resistance and crop yields.
An ongoing project under his supervision is the evaluation of foliar fertilization as a Best Management Practice (BMP) for citrus. This project seeks to determine if nutrients applied foliarly can reduce the amount of agricultural nutrients entering Florida's coastal water bodies while maintaining economic profitability for the grower. In addition, he has developed and demonstrated a sustainable program for citrus that reduces agricultural inputs. This program has reduced inputs while assuring an environmentally-safe agricultural program without compromising crop production or profitability.
Formerly, he was the citrus coordinator for over 1,100 acres of citrus groves using the Sustainable Citrus Program (SCP) at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at the Kennedy Space Center. His research projects have been funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, citrus grower's checkoff grants, and the private sector. He is the author of numerous scientific papers, has contributed to the Kerr Center Newsletter, developed fact sheets on low herbicide use and a non-toxic spray program for citrus, and is a frequent speaker at Florida citrus grower meetings.
Mr. Adair received a BS in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Miami. He worked as a chemist for seven years at the University of Miami Medical School and the Miami VA Hospital Research Service. He then pursued graduate studies in fisheries management at Oklahoma State University. While in Oklahoma, he developed and managed a 600-acre family farm raising registered Black Angus cattle using sustainable agricultural practices. Concurrently, he was the owner and manager of Phoenix Construction Company, which specialized in energy conservation and passive solar design. In recognition of his agricultural accomplishments, Mr. Adair became a member of the Kerr Center's Board of Trustees in 1985 and served as the Executive Director of the Kerr Center's Vero Beach Research Station for 18 years. During that time Mr. Adair worked to see the Vero Beach Research Station take a lead role in sustainable agricultural research. In 2004, he formed and spearheaded the Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability, Inc. (FLARES) to continue and expand the good work in place by the Vero Beach Research Station.
He is a graduate of Class II of the Florida Leadership Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources and a Fellow of the University of Florida's Natural Resources Leadership Institute. Outside of his love for agriculture, he is an avid saltwater sportsman and skin diver. He sits on both the Indian River County's Agricultural Advisory Board and Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. He, his wife, Diane, and their two sons live in Vero Beach in a home located in a small, family-operated citrus grove.
Support Staff:
- Pat Hall - Grove Manager
- Matthew Adair - Research Technician
- Andrew Adair - Field Technician
- Teresa Adair - Office Manager
