Friends of IPM Awards
The mission of the Southern IPM Center is to champion the development and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), the science of managing pests while protecting people, the environment and economy. Each Regional Center engages broadly with stakeholders to identify and address regional pest priorities in agriculture, communities and natural areas.
Since 2003, the Southern IPM Center (SIPMC) has worked with USDA, Land Grant universities, Extension, and many other partners in promoting and facilitating the development and implementation of IPM in many settings across the region.
Many of these partners have contributed to the region’s well-being for years or even decades.
The IPM Educator Award, 2026
The IPM Educator Friends of IPM award recognizes a teacher or group of teachers who successfully teach IPM techniques with successful educational programs that have inspired others to practice IPM.
Dr. Muhammad Haseeb, Florida A&M University
Written by Abbey Stewart
Dr. Muhammad Haseeb is the Director of the Center for Biological Control and Associate Professor at Florida A&M University. He specializes in IPM for specialty crops, including blueberry, strawberry, pepper, and tomato.
At Florida A&M University, Dr. Haseeb teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses that underscore the value of integrated pest management strategies. In courses such as “Insects, People and Environment” or “Insect Ecology,” students explore concepts such as pest identification, biological control, host-pest interactions, ecological monitoring, and the application of IPM principles. Beyond explaining the theoretical underpinnings of IPM, Dr. Haseeb equips students with practical diagnostic and monitoring skills, including trap deployment, use of pheromone and volatile lures, and field-based scouting techniques. By seamlessly integrating theory and practice, Dr. Haseeb’s courses have thoroughly prepared many of his students for advanced leadership positions in state agencies, Extension services, and private industry, where they now implement IPM techniques.
As an extension of his educational efforts, Dr. Haseeb regularly conducts IPM-focused training workshops for specialty crop growers, county Extension agents, and Master Gardeners in Florida. His comprehensive, impactful programs address the management of invasive and emerging pests, such as the Red Palm Weevil and Spotted Lanternfly. To ensure accessibility for diverse audiences, Dr. Haseeb utilizes bilingual factsheets, captivating field demonstrations, and digital diagnostic tools. After one of Dr. Haseeb’s particularly engaging workshops on invasive palm pests, participants reported reduced reliance on prophylactic pesticide applications.
Dr. Muhammad Haseeb is presenting IPM practices for Cole crops in the high tunnel production system in Gadsden County, Florida.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Haseeb collaborates with schools and local organizations to inspire IPM adoption through youth and community education. He introduces IPM principles to future generations through interactive demonstrations and insect exhibits, reinforcing ecological literacy and sustainable practices.
The impact of Dr. Haseeb’s outstanding teaching is readily apparent. Students trained under his guidance have advanced to careers where they now champion IPM practices in agriculture and natural resource management. Growers have reported reduced input costs and improved pest suppression after adopting monitoring-based decision-making taught in his workshops. Master Gardeners have integrated biological control concepts into community garden programs.
Dr. Haseeb has contributed to IPM education through an impressive record of 87 publications, including 68 peer-reviewed research articles and 19 Extension and outreach works. Dr. Haseeb’s Extension pieces provide stakeholders with timely, effective tools to manage pests sustainably, while his peer-reviewed articles ensure that those recommendations are grounded in rigorous research. His widely accessible Extension articles guide non-specialist audiences and are widely shared in county workshops and incorporated into Master Gardener trainings, amplifying their reach.
Collectively, Dr. Haseeb’s publications highlight his exceptional ability to bridge scientific knowledge and practice, empowering growers and community educators across Florida and beyond with actionable IPM strategies.
Dr. Haseeb observing sunflower for predatory bugs in a sunflower at the IPM demonstration site in Leong County, Florida.
Dr. Muhammad Haseeb is a transformative IPM educator whose teaching inspires IPM adoption and empowers communities. His lifelong commitment to education and service influences pest management far beyond his own classrooms and workshops, making him exceptionally deserving of this award.