St. Paul, MN (March 25, 2003)—Bringing together representatives from government agencies, universities, scientific societies, and the private sector, the American Phytopathological Society (APS) assembled a workshop on crop biosecurity in Washington, D.C., March 20-21, 2003.
The workshop addressed the need for greater prevention and preparedness to protect against the intentional or accidental introduction of plant pathogens that could pose a serious threat to the nation’s food security. Participants stressed the need for greater collaboration between groups.
John Sherwood, chair of the APS Public Policy Board, said the level of involvement at the event was “impressive.” “The broad participation in the workshop signifies the interest and willingness of the groups to work together for this important shared cause—our nation’s food security,” said Sherwood.
Issues discussed include:
- Defining an event and differentiating between natural and intentional releases
- Review of the current and planned infrastructure for biosecurity
- Role of genomics in biosecurity
- Practices for assuring biosecurity
- Publication of sensitive information
The discussions resulted in a list of prioritized action items. A summary of the discussions and recommendations are being prepared and include topics for further discussion. A white paper from the APS Public Policy Board will soon be made available to highlight the workshop’s findings.
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a nonprofit, professional scientific organization dedicated to the study and control of plant diseases with 5,000 members worldwide.
