Scotts Announces Partnership Agreement with UC Davis’ California Center for Urban Horticulture

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) today announced a one-year partnership with UC Davis and the California Center for Urban Horticulture (CCUH).

Established in 2006, the CCUH is focused on improving the horticultural education of California residents. Since its inception, the Center has partnered experts from UC Davis, UC Cooperative Extension and other UC campuses with industry experts to find ways to enhance the horticulture industry. The Center addresses a wide range of issues from urban run-off to the impact of the increasing demand for water. The partnership with ScottsMiracle-Gro will be focused on the sharing of best practices to improve consumer education of these topics and bring together researchers and technologies that will advance the lawn and garden industry.   

“This is the first step in what we hope will be a broad and rewarding partnership,” said Dr. Mark Slavens, ScottsMiracle-Gro’s Lead of Regional Science & Technology. “We are eager to support the Center’s programs that educate stakeholders on the principles and practices of urban horticulture, especially those that emphasize the promotion of sustainable practices that protect resources and enhance ecosystems.”

Long term goals of the partnership include facilitating discussions and project ideation that will ultimately lead to research support for individual researchers or department research programs.

Any research begun as a result of the partnership will be focused in three main areas: managing landscapes to improve water use efficiency, improving industry knowledge around organic and natural options for landscapes and engaging the next generation around the benefits of green spaces.

“The CCUH is pleased to announce this partnership with ScottsMiracle-Gro,” said CCUH director Dave Fujino. “Partnerships that bring our scientists, students and the private sector together can be very enlightening and provide invaluable experience.”

ScottsMiracle-Gro partners with academic institutions around the globe to drive research, innovation and education on issues critical to the lawn and garden industry. As part of its global leadership in research and development, ScottsMiracle-Gro currently works with Texas A&M University, The Ohio State University, Rutgers University, and Michigan State University as well as a number of additional institutions around the world, including the University of Sydney, Australia.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With more than $2.8 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business.  In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligène® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.