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John Edward Rechcigl, known as Jack Rechcigl, is an American Agronomy and environmental scientist. He is a professor and science administrator at the University of Florida. His agricultural research includes vegetable, floral, and strawberry production, in addition to plant breeding. His career in science administration has emphasized promoting research in agriculture and environmental studies.
He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in botany and studied pedology at Virginia Tech, where he attained his master's in 1983, and later his doctorate in 1986.
Initially based at the Range Research and Education Center in Ona, Florida (1985–2000), Rechcigl researched fertilizer requirements for grasses and the impact of fertilizers on surface and groundwater quality. This research led to the revision of fertility recommendations and contributed to the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for grass management.
In 2000, he was named Associate Director of the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research Center (GCREC) in Bradenton, Florida. He attended additional administrative training at Harvard University, before being appointed as the center director in 2001.
During his time as the center’s director, the university established a new GCREC, which opened to the public in 2005 in Balm, Florida. Rechcigl worked to secure funding and plan the facility, and also oversaw the closure of the previous center. He also coordinated the relocation of faculty and staff to the new site.
As director of the new center, Rechcigl collaborated directly with growers to address challenges associated with production costs and competition from international markets, focusing on crop production, water conservation, and pest management. He established an alternative crops program, securing funding and overseeing research on new crops suited to Florida's climate, including hops, artichoke, blackberry, raspberry, Hemp, watermelon, and pomegranate, aiming to create new market opportunities and support agricultural diversification.
/ref> such as AI-based tools for detecting and identifying Weed in strawberry and vegetable production. This led to the development of a "smart sprayer" prototype which used AI for targeted herbicide application. Rechcigl has also supported research into alternative disease control methods. GCREC researchers have collaborated with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences to develop a GPS-guided robot capable of emitting UV light to reduce powdery mildew on strawberry crops.
Rechcigl also helped secure funding for a new 40-million-dollar, 40,000-square-foot AI hub at GCREC, known as the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture. The center will focus on integrating AI into agricultural research, including breeding crops with enhanced resistance to pests and diseases.
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Rechcigl has worked to modernize laboratory techniques utilized in soil and tissue analysis. His research has focused on the use of inorganic and organic wastes in agriculture. He has presented on these topics as a keynote speaker at various scientific conferences.
Additionally, Rechcigl, representing the University of Florida, participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the University of Florida and Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The agreement aimed to enhance collaboration through student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and academic events. During this visit, plans were initiated for a tri-university research symposium involving the two universities and the University of Naples in Italy. The primary objective of this symposium was to facilitate the exchange of technical information and promote collaborative research endeavours among the participating institutions. As of 2025, the symposium is in its third edition.
the Soil Science Society of America,Member Directory | Soil Science Society of America and the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences. He was named to the UF Research Foundation Professorship and holds an Honorary Professorship at the Czech University of Agriculture Prague. He is a member of the Cosmos Club.
Rechcigl has garnered several awards throughout his career including the Florida Strawberry Growers Association Public Service Award, the Sigma Xi Research Award, and the University of the Philippines Research Award. Additionally, he has been honored with the University of Florida Research Honor Award, the University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship, and the University of Florida Interdisciplinary Extension Team Award. He has received the University of Delaware Research Award and the University of Delaware Alumni Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement Award.
He initiated and is the editor-in-chief of the Agriculture and Environment monograph series. He edited five comprehensive treatises on diverse topics, including: Soil Amendments: Impacts on Biotic System (1995), Soil Amendments and Environmental Quality (1995 ), Environmentally Safe Approaches to Crop Disease Control (1997), Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests (1998), and Insect Pest Management (2000) . He also organized a symposium, sponsored by the American Chemical Society, on Agricultural Uses of By-Products and Wastes, which was subsequently published as an American Chemical Society monograph (1997).
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