MSU was named the leader of a regional lab developed for the detection and diagnosing of plant pests and diseases Thursday.
“Michigan State is leading this project in the North Central Region,” said Jeffrey Armstrong, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “I believe this is a fantastic compliment to the strong record that MSU has built in plant diagnostics.”
Ann Veneman, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, announced the department will be giving more than $43 million in federal grants to the safety and security of plants and animals for food.
Michigan will receive $1.2 million, and $900,000 during two years will go to MSU to be used for the regional lab for the rapid detection and diagnostics network between states.
“Having early diagnoses is very important,” said Ray Hammerschmidt, chairperson for the Department of Plant Pathology. “The sooner we can identify either the pathogen or the pest, the better.”
MSU received the honor because of the existing lab and the involvement in the plant diagnostics, Hammerschmidt said.
“I think this is a really exciting opportunity for MSU to take an area, that I think we’re already excellent in, to the next level,” he said.
The current lab is funded by the Michigan Agriculture Experiment Station, GREEEN and MSU Extension.
The announcement opened the gates for a three-month planning period for MSU. The planning will entail distributing the $900,000 to states within the region, as well as where the lab will be, and when construction will begin.
“I’d say by the first two months we’ll have a really good idea about what’s going to happen,” Armstrong said.
Since nothing has been cemented, officials don’t know if the current lab in the Center for Integrated Plant Systems, located on campus, will need renovations or additions.
Armstrong also said the program doesn’t have a name, or a director to head it, and this information won’t be available for at least two more months.
“This funding may cover the expansion of some physical labs,” said Francie Todd, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Information Officer.
The lab will be one of five in the nation directed to prevent plant diseases and pest outbreaks, whether they’re unintentional or intentional. Intentional being if there an act of bioterrorism in the United States.
“It’ll be very positive,” Armstrong said. “The intentional process will be there, but hopefully we don’t ever have to use it.”
George Bird, coordinator of diagnostic services, said the program may ease the minds of Americans fearing the risk of bioterrorism, but that knowledge of bioterrorism also will ease their minds as well.
“This new program is designed to deal with agricultural security and keeping with the sound food system we’ve always had,” Bird said.
Armstrong said the money will help MSU to continue what it has already been doing for many years.
“This is something new we’re doing in addition to what we’ve been doing,” he said. “We have to keep doing what we’ve been doing, it’s important to the state.”
