Science and Technology
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Science and Technology (S&T) provides scientific and analytical support for PPQ regulatory decisions and program operations.
S&T is responsible for ensuring that PPQ has the information, tools, and technology to make the most scientifically valid regulatory and policy decisions possible. S&T also supports PPQ program operations by providing practical tools for plant pest exclusion, detection, and management. Currently, PPQ S&T comprises approximately 230 scientists, analysts, and support staff at 7 principal laboratories and additional satellite locations. 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.
Arthropod Pests: Developing methods to manage invasive arthropods.
Plant Diseases: Developing methods to manage invasive plant diseases.
Biological Control: Developing technologies that allow natural enemies to effectively mitigate the impacts of invasive arthropods, weeds, and plant pathogens.