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A biosecurity center at Purdue University is one of the newest strategic defenses to protect the nation's food supply against foreign plant pests and pathogens introduced by either natural means or terrorism.
The Purdue Center for Crop Biosecurity was established to identify pests and pathogens that could damage U.S. crops, to find the pathways through which the organisms could invade and to determine how to prevent introduction.
Currently, there is no single place where people can go to get information on invasive plant pests and plant pathogens in case of a national emergency, says center director Ray Martyn.
Although most destructive foreign, or exotic, species in the United States have arrived by natural means or trade routes, terrorists could attempt to introduce pathogens to damage the country's economy. “We need to prepare for both unintentional and deliberate introductions,” Martyn says.
In addition to research, the biosecurity center will provide educational resources to professionals who deal with the invasions of harmful pests and pathogens, as well as coordinate with Indiana 's natural resources and biosecurity departments.
The Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory, already part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, becomes part of the new center.
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