Another Grant for Crop Vigilance

North Carolina State University is the latest university to receive a grant to sponsor training aimed at keeping U.S. field crops safe from bioterrorism.

Dr. Gerald Homes, associate professor of plant pathology, and Dr. Ron Stinner, professor of entomology and biomathematics, received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Research Initiative homeland security program to develop a national training program for first detectors --- those in the forefront of working with U.S. food crops.

Other project directors include faculty at Kansas State University and the University of Florida.

“We want to talk to people in frequent contact with agriculture, including growers,” Holmes said. “Cooperative Extension agents across the country will train growers and others in direct contact with crops.”

The Southeast is especially vulnerable to bioterrorism because of its agricultural diversity --- an ideal environment for pests and diseases to thrive --- and because cropland is located near ports where exotic pests can enter the ecosystem, he said.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at May 19, 2004 10:04 AM | TrackBack