The Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) provides scientific support for the regulatory decisions and operations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program in order to safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources. CPHST is responsible for ensuring that PPQ has the information, tools, and technology to make the most scientifically valid regulatory and policy decisions possible. In addition, CPHST ensures that PPQ’s operations have the most scientifically viable and practical tools for pest exclusion, detection, and management. This 2009 CPHST Annual Report is intended to offer an in-depth look at the status of our programs and the progress CPHST has made toward the Center’s long-term strategic goals. CPHST's work is organized into six National Science Programs: Agricultural Quarantine Inspection and Port Technology; Risk and Pathway Analysis; Domestic Surveillance, Detection, and Identification; Emergency Response; Response and Recovery Systems Technology - Arthropods; and Response and Recovery Systems Technology - Plant Pathogens and Weeds. the scientists of CPHST provide leadership and expertise in a wide range of fields, including risk assessments that support trade, commodity quarantine treatments, pest survey and detection methods, molecular diagnostics, biological control techniques, integrated pest management, and mass rearing of insects. Some highlights of significant CPHST efforts in 2009 include: Establishment of the National Ornamentals Research Site at Dominican University of California, Established LBAM Integrated Pest Management and Survey Methods, Continue to develop Citrus Greening/Huanglongbing Management Tools, and further European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) Response.
Safeguarding through science: Center for Plant Health Science and Technology 2009 Accomplishments