Muhammad Haseeb, Ph.D., an associate professor of entomology in FAMU’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, has received the 2026 Friends of IPM “IPM Educator” Award. The national honor recognizes long-term excellence in teaching and advancing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices—a science-based approach to pest control—across the Southeastern United States.
The award arrives at a critical juncture for American agriculture. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture has repeatedly warned, warmer temperatures and shifting weather patterns are expanding the range and severity of insect pests, invasive species, and crop diseases, posing a mounting threat to food security and farm economies.
It is against this backdrop of escalating challenges that Dr. Haseeb’s philosophy, honed over more than two decades, has gained renewed importance. On a recent morning at FAMU's Quincy Farm research station just north of Tallahassee, he demonstrated its essence: inspecting a hemp leaf not for damage, but for the presence of beneficial pollinators. It is a small, quiet act of observation that represents his core belief—that sustainable agriculture depends not on eradication, but on understanding the intricate balance of entire ecosystems.
“Dr. Haseeb’s work demonstrates how research, education, and community engagement can directly support agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability,” said G. Dale Wesson, Ph.D., dean of FAMU’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences. “As an 1890 land-grant institution, FAMU has a responsibility to deliver research-based solutions. His contributions reflect that mission in action.”
The discipline he teaches, Integrated Pest Management, is the practical application of that belief. It moves beyond a reflexive reliance on chemical treatments, emphasizing instead proactive monitoring, prevention, and a suite of tools. These range from deploying beneficial insects as biological controls to altering planting schedules and field layouts. The goal is to manage pest populations while minimizing economic, environmental and public health risks.
For Dr. Haseeb, who also directs FAMU’s Center for Biological Control, this is not merely academic theory. His research and extension work, focused on high-value crops like blueberries, strawberries and tomatoes, translate these principles into strategies farmers can use. His career, supported by 93 publications, bridges the gap between laboratory science, classroom instruction, and the soil of Florida’s Panhandle.
“IPM is about empowering people with the knowledge to make sustainable decisions,” Dr. Haseeb said. “It is a continuous process of observation, understanding and intervention—always with the goal of preserving the system’s health.”
The national award underscores that in an era of climatic stress, the lessons of balance and stewardship that Dr. Haseeb has long taught are becoming indispensable tools for the future of farming.