USDA - APHIS - Plant Health, Plant Protection and Quarantine, CPHST

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology

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The Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) provides scientific support for PPQ regulatory decisions and operations, and is the main component of PPQ’s Science and Technology core functional area, which also includes the National Clean Plant Network. 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 PPQ’s operations have the most scientifically viable and practical tools for pest exclusion, detection, and management. Currently, CPHST comprises approximately 230 scientists, analysts, and support staff at 7 principal laboratories, with satellite locations throughout the United States and in Guatemala. The Office of the Executive Director is headquartered on North Carolina State University's Centennial Campus in Raleigh, NC.

Project Areas

	Trade Issues and Risk Analysis Assessing the potential impact of new invasive plant pests to U.S. agriculture and the pest risks associated with imported plant products.
	Treatment Technology Developing new treatment methods for plant products to prevent movement of invasive pests through international trade.
	Pest Detection Developing tools and techniques to improve early detection of exotic pests in surveillance programs.
	Identification and Diagnostics Developing and validating new technologies to identify exotic pests and accrediting external laboratories to perform diagnostics for high consequence pests.
	Emergency Response Providing scientific support during plant health emergencies.
	Arthropod Pests Developing methods to manage invasive arthropods.
	Plant Diseases Developing methods to manage invasive plant diseases.
	Noxious and Invasive Plants Implementing existing methods and developing new technologies for the identification, exclusion, eradication, and management of invasive weeds and regulated plants.
	Biological Control Developing technologies that allow natural enemies to effectively mitigate the impacts of invasive arthropods, weeds, and plant pathogens.

Contact: Executive Director Philip Berger Telephone: (919) 855-7400