Center for Plant Health Science and Technology Accomplishments, 2007

Abstract

This past year’s hard work and significant changes have enabled CPHST—a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program—to be an organization more capable and better aligned to support and focus on PPQ’s scientific needs. In 2007, CPHST developed the first PPQ strategic plan for CPHST. The plan shows where CPHST is going over the next 5 years, how it is going to get there, and how it will know if it got there or not. Moreover, CPHST plan identifies critical elements of PPQ’s overall strategic plan that must be supported by the science and technology services CPHST provides. The strategic plan was followed by an operational plan, which guarantees that the strategic plan is a living and breathing document. The operational plan identifies the responsibilities and resources needed to accomplish priorities in this fiscal year and measures our progress. CPHST identifies the pathways by which invasive plant pests and weeds can be introduced into the United States. CPHST develops, adapts, and supports technology to detect, identify, and mitigate the impact of invasive organisms. CPHST helps to ensure that the methods, protocols, and equipment used by PPQ field personnel are effective and efficient. All the work of CPHST is identified under one of the five program areas: Agricultural Quarantine Inspection and Port Technology, Molecular Diagnostics and Biotechnology, Response and Recovery Systems Technology, Risk and Pathway Analysis, and Survey Detection and Identification. CPHST scientists are leaders in various fields, including risk assessment, survey and detection, geographic information systems (GIS), molecular diagnostics, biocontrol techniques, methods and treatment, and mass rearing of insects. The following list outlines some of CPHST’s efforts in 2007: Responding to Emergencies, Developing and Supporting Technology for Treatments, Increasing Diagnostic Capacity, and Supporting Trade.