Reinventing the wheel or driving the science? International diagnostics: capacity and coordination
Marco Arevalo: Agroexpertos
<div>Trade in agronomic and horticultural products is a known pathway for hitchhiking pathogens and pests. Sources and recipients of those products must have the infrastructure to detect and accurately diagnose diseases promptly and to protect against or proactively manage those diseases. Early detection allows for the possibility of eradication or containment, while accurate diagnosis is paramount for recommendation of effective action. Training in these vital areas, encouragement of communication between countries, and science-based action, have been supported and disseminated by many agencies, countries, and organizations over the decades in the global fight against agricultural pests. Groups such as CABI, USAID, USDA-FAS, the National and International Plant Diagnostic Networks, the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network, and others have all had their share of success and failure to provide a continuum of training and diagnostic capacity in-country and around the world. To date, piecemeal funding, duplicative programming, and lack of coordination on a global scale have hindered the sustainability and impact of these programs. We will discuss examples of successful programs, pose funding priorities for delegates to consider, and describe possible solutions to some of the training and diagnostics dilemmas that derail once-successful projects.</div>
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