The Lee County Extension of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, or IFAS, holds its third annual sustainability conference tomorrow.  The day-long event includes an expo featuring local leaders and innovators in the clean and renewable energy sector as well as lectures from policy makers and university researchers.  We caught up with Martha Avila, IFAS’s SustainabLEE program coordinator and Jayne Coles with Lee County’s Pollution Prevention Department to talk about the conference and what attendees can expect to find. 

On Tuesday Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson Bradshaw announced a 1-million dollar gift that will establish the Backe Chair in Renewable Energy. He also announced a collaborative venture to build a 240 acre research park near the campus in south Lee County. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has more…

New studies from the University of South Florida show a chemical commonly used in weed killer is adversely affecting some amphibians and fish.  WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

A group of national experts is in Fort Myers Tuesday to hold a discussion about the sustainability of this nation’s food supply. They’re expected to touch on big topics like the globalization of food and also some simple things consumers can do to make a difference. Rick Clugston is executive director of Earth Charter U-S-A. He says Americans need to reexamine their food priorities.

“Part of it is, it’s a question of what’s a better way to get our food. What’s a better way to eat...something that makes us healthier, something that makes the planet healthier, something that makes a better life for animals, a better life for workers, a better life for rural communities.”