At this year’s Food Use Workshop, IR-4 presented SOAR Awards to two incredible collaborators: Thierry Besançon and Armando Monterosso.
The SOAR Award honors external partners who exemplify the areas of Service, Outreach, Altruism and Research, while supporting specialty crop growers and the mission of The IR-4 Project. This year’s winners have made significant contributions not only to their individual research areas, but to the specialty crop industry as a whole. Learn more about the awardees below, from the perspective of their nominators.
Dr. Thierry Besançon, Associate Professor and Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops at Rutgers University, New Jersey State Liaison Representative for IR-4
Thierry Besançon leads IR-4 research at Rutgers University and serves the Northeast Region with weed control guidance, specializing in blueberries, cranberries, vegetables, tree fruit and vineyards. Besançon brings a fresh perspective on potential pest solutions and a personable, trustworthy nature to his work, positively impacting growers well beyond his region.
SERVICE
Besançon is known for being responsive to the needs of growers and serving the specialty crop community with well-researched solutions. His weed control guidance is trusted among grower communities, and he devotes significant time to presenting his guidance and updating growers on new findings. He is an active member of the Weed Science Society of America, sitting on multiple committees and currently serving as President of the Northeastern Weed Science Society.
When growers need action, Besançon steps up to serve them. For example, when blueberry growers faced phytoxicity issues from an herbicide during Besançon’s first year at Rutgers, he coordinated with IR-4, registrants, and growers to investigate the incident and help implement modifications to the label that would maintain efficacy, grower confidence, and environmental safety. Besançon’s service-oriented leadership makes him a trusted resource among specialty crop stakeholders.
OUTREACH
Through his role as IR-4 State Liaison Representative for New Jersey, Besançon spreads awareness of the IR-4 Project and helps connect growers to IR-4’s research process. He regularly presents data, research outcomes, and recommendations for growers across the country at meetings and conferences. He is an impactful contributor to IR-4’s annual Food Use Workshop, where he submits project requests, advises on potential weed control solutions, and brings important grower needs to the table.
ALTRUISM
Besançon’s altruism shines through his mentoring of students, his tireless work bringing pest control measures to growers, and his collaboration with colleagues. He does it all with energy, enthusiasm, humility, and a great sense of humor, always keeping the well-being of others in focus.
RESEARCH
Besançon conducts numerous research trials exploring both conventional solutions and emerging technologies. His leadership in developing sustainable weed management strategies—such as cover cropping, herbicide resistance monitoring, electrical, laser, and optical-based applications—has significantly advanced research and Extension efforts at his Rutgers research station and beyond. He works collaboratively with colleagues, including Lynn Sosnoskie of Cornell University, with whom he has explored vision-guided sprayer applications on blueberry and grape, among many other projects. He is a deeply valued IR-4 research collaborator.
Thank you, Thierry!
Thierry Besançon’s SOAR Award was presented at the 2025 Food Use Workshop by IR-4 Executive Director Jerry Baron and Northeast Regional Field Coordinator Marylee Ross. Later this fall, Marylee Ross and Megan James Hickman (Assistant Regional Field Coordinator) were able to present Besançon’s plaque to him at the University of Maryland Lower Eastern Shore Research & Extension Center.
Armando Monterroso, Retired R&D Director for Brooks Tropicals, IR-4 Commodity Liaison Committee Member
Until his well-deserved retirement earlier this year, Armando Monterroso was a long-standing, invaluable member of the IR-4 Project Commodity Liaison Committee (CLC), representing tropical crops through his role at Florida-based Brooks Tropicals. Monterroso has consistently demonstrated excellence in service, outreach, altruism and research, and IR-4 is grateful for the dedication he showed as a CLC member.
SERVICE
Monterroso exemplifies service through his consistent and impactful participation in key committees and advisory panels that are influential to the agricultural community and the IR-4 Project.
As a member of the Commodity Liaison Committee and Friends of IR-4, Monterroso has actively engaged year after year in lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., tirelessly advocating for the funding appropriations that are crucial to IR-4’s success. Monterroso has also served as a key member of the Florida Laurel Wilt Management Task Force on avocados, directly addressing a significant threat to a major specialty crop.
OUTREACH
Monterroso has consistently attended Friends of IR-4 and CLC educational events with Hill staffers, demonstrating his commitment to understanding and navigating the legislative landscape and ensuring growers’ needs are being heard in Washington. His efforts have been instrumental in educating decision-makers on the importance of the IR-4 Project.
ALTRUISM
Monterroso has donated time and resources far above and beyond his role, all for the benefit of the agricultural community. At the CLC’s annual reception for congressional staffers, where members provide a spread of products representing their grower groups, Monterroso’s generous display of diverse tropical fruits always sparks conversation and excitement, helping to make this event memorable and, by extension, make IR-4 memorable to the busy staffers who attend.
Beyond his active advocacy for growers and IR-4, Monterroso’s positive attitude has made him a treasured attendee at IR-4’s annual priority-setting events and a beloved community member in general.
RESEARCH
Monterroso’s contributions to research are at the forefront of agricultural innovation, consistently contributing to new and enhanced pest management solutions for tropical specialty crop growers. At Brooks Tropicals, he played a pivotal role in the development of new technologies and innovations for papaya, avocado, and star fruit. A focus of his role was identifying the most suitable technologies to control pests and diseases, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable production for these vital crops.
Monterroso has been an excellent, articulate advocate for tropical pest management solutions, bringing a vital perspective to IR-4’s priority-setting discussions and helping to shape research priorities that directly benefit a diverse community of growers.
Thank you, Armando!
Monterroso’s SOAR Award was presented at the 2025 Food Use Workshop by IR-4 Executive Director Jerry Baron and Commodity Liaison Committee Chair Todd Scholz.