Purdue Agriculture focuses efforts on crop protection

By Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture

To help protect our nation's food supply and the economic viability of farmers, Purdue Agriculture has established the Center for Crop Biosecurity and Invasive Species. The purpose of the center is to identify invasive plants, insects and pathogens that could damage our crops and to discover ways to mitigate them.

Ray Martyn, who has broad understanding of plant pests and diseases, leads the center, which also includes the Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. Martyn previously served as head of the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.

While Purdue Agriculture already is an important part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, that network is charged only with identifying pathogens. The new center will go beyond identification to try to better understand crop risks and the proper way to respond to them.

This center will accumulate information on crop threats that could occur either by natural or accidental introduction, or intentionally through an act of terrorism. The Purdue center also will provide education to those on the front lines in dealing with harmful pests and pathogens.

Related link: Purdue Center for Crop Biosecurity set to protect

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