The Texas Horticulture Industry Advisory Council (THIAC) brings together leaders from across Texas to identify priorities, accelerate innovation, develop the next generation of talent, and build a coordinated roadmap for long-term success.
Representing sectors from fruits, vegetables, pecans, grapes and wine to nursery, landscape, floral, Christmas tree, and emerging horticultural industries, THIAC serves as a catalyst for collaboration, investment, and growth across the Texas horticulture ecosystem.
Join us as we shape the future of Texas horticulture.
The Texas Horticulture Industry Advisory Council was established in 2025, through an initiative led by Amit Dhingra, Professor and Head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University
Why THIAC?
Texas horticulture faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Water scarcity, labor shortages, technology adoption, consumer awareness, extreme weather events, workforce development, and global competition are affecting every commodity sector.
THIAC provides a forum where industry leaders, researchers, educators, Extension specialists, and policymakers work together to identify priorities and develop actionable solutions that strengthen the entire horticulture ecosystem.
Texas Horticulture Technology Roadmap
This industry guided roadmap will identify opportunities, challenges, and priorities across short-, medium-, and long-term timelines. We must invest now to ensure the Horticulture sector continues to grow and thrive over the next decades. It will guide strategic investments in research, leadership and managerial workforce development, infrastructure, innovation, and policy while helping ensure that Texas remains a national leader in horticulture.
The roadmap will serve as a foundation for:
- Research and innovation priorities
- Leadership and managerial workforce development and education
- Student engagement, internships, and scholarships
- Infrastructure and capacity building
- Legislative and policy engagement
- Economic growth and industry competitiveness
Inspiring the Next Generation
One of THIAC’s core priorities is developing the future leadership and managerial workforce through a 4-year B.S. Degree in Horticultural Science needed to sustain Texas horticulture.
Horticulture is an interdisciplinary profession that combines science, technology, art, humanities and business and focused on high economic value crops. The public is not familiar with the breadth of careers available in horticulture. Today’s industry includes plant breeding, biotechnology, precision horticulture, robotics, machine learning, controlled environment production, data analytics, supply chains, marketing, entrepreneurship, floral design, wine production, urban landscapes, and much more.
THIAC works with the Department of Horticultural Sciences and industry partners to expand student and parent awareness, career exploration, internships, scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and workforce training across Texas.
Join Us!
The future of Texas horticulture depends on grassroots participation and collaboration.
Whether you are a grower, entrepreneur, educator, student, researcher, Extension professional, policymaker, donor, or industry supporter, or a member of the public, your voice matters. We welcome your ideas and suggestions.
Amit Dhingra, Ph.D.
Head, Department of Horticultural Sciences
College Station
509-432-3683
[email protected]
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The Texas horticulture industry and the Texas Horticulture Industry Advisory Council matter to me because they ensure that my fruit and nut tree research and extension programs are tightly tailored to real-world grower needs. For my organization and the state, this industry-driven guidance helps shape technology roadmaps, workforce development, and priorities so that limited research and outreach efforts are focused where they deliver the greatest impact, keeping Texas horticulture—such perennial crops like pecans and fruit trees—economically competitive, resilient, and central to Texas’ long‑term quality of life.
Kimberly Ceravntes
Assistant Professor & Extension Horticulture Specialist
Texas Horticulture Industry Advisory Council Members
Carlos A. Avila
Associate Professor
Karen Bonarrigo
Chief Administrative Officer at Messina Hof Wine Cellars, Inc
President of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association (TWGGA) for 2026
Kimberly Ceravntes
Assistant Professor & Extension Horticulture Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Jayla Fry
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist
Daniel Hillin
Program Specialist I; Ph.D. – Graduate Student
Vijay Joshi
Associate Professor
Navreet Kaur Mahal
Instructional Assistant Professor and Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Programs
Joe Masabni
Professor and Extension Specialist
Patrick O'Brien
Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist
Duane Patrick
Owner Sunset Hill Tree Farm/Pollo Rosa Vineyard and Winery
Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association/Texas Grape Growers
Lorenzo Rossi
Assistant Professor
Shuyang Zhen
Associate Professor