New Mexico State University Department Watches for Threats to Food Supply
Posted on: Thursday, 7 July 2005, 18:00 CDT
Jul. 7--The war on terrorism has changed the way Americans think about protection, but many may not have not given much thought to the U.S. food supply.
Keeping the nation free of potential infestations that could affect food sources or plants is the focus of plant pathologist Natalie Goldberg of the Cooperative Extension Service at New Mexico State University.
NMSU has become part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, designed to help maintain security of the food supply and prevent the spread of plant diseases that could cost agricultural producers billions of dollars.
Goldberg recently certified 100 advanced "first responders" -- both Extension agents and 44 master gardeners -- who will be on the forefront of monitoring plant infestations.
"We are trying to train people to be alert and observant," Goldberg said.
"Early detection is the only way we can have effective eradication." Goldberg said new plant diseases could get into the United States unintentionally from international travelers, shipments of non-inspected goods or even from a weather event like a hurricane.
Larry Dickson, 64, of Las Cruces is one of those master gardeners who took Goldberg's training.
"If we spot something out of the ordinary, we bring it in to Natalie," Dickson said. "If need be, the item would go to the state Agriculture Department and on to the USDA."
Dickson is glad he took the training.
"I think this is important," he said. "Who knows when a new disease might pop up. We need to identify the difference between something stress induced and something new."
The National Plant Diagnostic Network is a collective of land grant university plant disease and pest diagnostic facilities from across the United States.
"The network is a very effective tool for us," said Jeff Witte, director of bio-security with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. "It is a very good reporting system and it is quick."
Witte said the Department of Homeland Security liked the idea of linking universities as first responders.
"A hurricane brought in soy bean rust to Louisiana," Witte said. "That thing is on the selected agent list of USDA. The idea is to have an effective response, not panic."
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Source: Las Cruces Sun-News
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