National Plant Diagnostic
Network
CSREES administered the funding and provided
leadership to establish the National Plant
Diagnostic Network. The network is led by
five regional labs (Cornell, Florida, Michigan
State, Kansas State, and California at Davis)
and one support lab (Texas Tech).
Its primary objective is to establish a
functional national network of existing diagnostic
laboratories to rapidly and accurately detect
and report plant diseases and other pests
of national interest, particularly those
pathogens that have the potential to be intentionally
introduced through bio-terrorism. The establishment
of the network will provide the means necessary
for ensuring that all participating land-grant
university diagnostic facilities are alerted
of possible outbreaks and/or introductions
and are technologically equipped to rapidly
detect and identify pests and pathogens.
This will be accomplished by establishing
an effective communication network of regional
expertise, developing harmonized reporting
protocols with the national diagnostic network
participants, and cataloging pest and disease
occurrences to be included in a national
database.
Learn more about the present activities
of the NPDN and plans for the future at the
NPDN website.
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