Predicting the Next Plant Disease Pandemic Symposium (April 5-6, 2023)
Plant disease outbreaks are increasing and threaten food security for the vulnerable in many areas of the world and in the US. Recently, a global human pandemic threatened the health of millions on our planet. A stable, nutritious food supply is needed to both lift people out of poverty and improve health outcomes. Plant diseases, both endemic and recently emerging, are spreading and exacerbated by climate change, transmission with global food trade networks, pathogen spillover and evolution of new pathogen genetic lineages. Prediction of plant disease pandemics is unreliable due to the lack of real-time detection, surveillance, and data analytics to inform decision-making and prevent spread. This is the grand challenge that we are tackling in this Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) Phase 1 planning grant. As part of this work, we held a symposium and workshop at North Carolina State University sponsored by the NSF PIPP program to discuss new tools for pandemic prediction and the social and political implications of implementing them for monitoring and managing plant disease pandemics. The symposium featured a global panel of speakers, a poster session and was followed by an invitation-only workshop to further discuss and access current tools and brainstorm on strategies for predicting future plant disease pandemics.
The zoom recording for the symposium can be found here . Please use password: +26HE^T$ to access the zoom recording.
Full program is found here
The conference proceedings is found in Full Symposium Summary
Sym
posium Speakers
The Persistent Threat of Emerging Plant Disease to Global Food Security
Dr. Jean Ristaino, William Neil Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology, Director, Emerging Plant Disease and Global Food Security Cluster, NC State University
Abstract
Presentation
Climate and Potential Yield Losses to Fungal Plant Pathogens
Dr. Dan Bebber, Professor, University of Exeter
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Presentation
R2M Rapid Risk Assessment to Support Mitigation of Plant Disease: A Toolbox for National Programs
Dr. Karen Garrett, Preeminent Professor, University of Florida
Abstract
Presentation
A View from the Ground and Above: A Crops Consultant’s Experience with Mapping Farms, Pests, and Pathogens
Mr. Stan Winslow, President, Tidewater Agronomics, Inc.
Abstract
An Area Agent’s Perspective on Pest and Pathogen Emergencies
Ms. Erin Eure, Area Specialized Agent, NC Extension
Abstract
Presentation
The Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory: Safeguarding US Agriculture and Natural Resources
Dr. John Bienapfl, USDA APHIS
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Presentation
The National Plant Diagnostic Network
Dr. Neil McRoberts, Director, National Plant Diagnostic Networks, University of California, Davis
Dr. Jim Stack, Director, Great Plains Diagnostic Networks, Kansas State University
Abstract
Presentation
The North American and Global Perspective on Understanding and Mitigating the Threats of the Next Plant Health Pandemic
Dr. Stephanie Bloem, Executive Director, NAPPO
Abstract
Presentation
Experiences and Insights for Developing and Delivery Plant Disease Risk Information to Small Stakeholder Farmers in Kenya
Dr. Bryony Taylor, Digital Development Coordinator, CABI Bioscience, UK
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Presentation
How Might Spatially Explicit Landscape Scale Models Be Improved?
Dr. Nik Cunniffe, Head of Theoretical & Computational Epidemiology Group, Cambridge, UK
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Presentation
Slowing the Spread of Sudden Oak Death in Oregon Forests: An Overview of a Landscape Scale Disease Management Program
Ms. Sarah Navarro, Regional Forest Pathologist, US Forest Service
Abstract
Presentation
Effectiveness of Management Program for Sudden Oak Death in Oregon
Dr. Chris Jones, Center for Geospatial Analytics, NCSU
Abstract
Presentation
MARPLE Diagnostics: A Pioneering Step in Wheat Rust Management
Dr. Diane Saunders, John Innes Research Institute, UK
Abstract
Presentation
T-BAS: A Tool for Real-Time Tracking of Biodiversity Across the Tree of Life
Dr. Ignazio Carbone, NCSU
Abstract
Presentation
RIGEL: A Genomic-Based Biosurveillance Approach
Dr. Willy A. Valdivia-Granda, Orion Integrated Biosciences, Inc.
Abstract
Presentation
Preventing and Managing Plant Diseases
Dr. Wendy Jin, USDA, APHIS
Abstract
Presentation
Mitigating Biothreat Risk at the Border
Dr. Romelito Lapitan, Agrobioterrorism Countermeasures, DHS
Abstract
Presentation
Assessing the Risk of Cucurbit Downy Mildew Outbreaks in the Eastern United States
Dr. Peter Ojiambo, NCSU
Abstract
Presentation
Preliminary Version of Tomato Production Simulation Software that Accepts Probabilistic Input and Creates Probabilistic Outputs
Dr. Kelly Zering, NCSU
Abstract
Presentation
Field Sensors for Mapping Plant Disease and Stress Monitoring
Dr. Qingshan Wei, NCSU
Abstract
Presentation
Near Real-time Decision Making Under Uncertainty for Disease Mapping, Monitoring, and Prediction
Dr. Raju Vatsavai, NCSU
Abstract
Presentation
Case Studies in Mining Text for Plant Pests and Pathogens
Dr. Laura Tateosian, NCSU
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Presentation