Lunch seminar: Dustin Sandberg on his role as Plant Pathologist/Botanist with APHIS

USDA-APHIS-PPQ: Protecting America’s Agricultural and Natural Resources

Dustin will present an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ, or just PPQ) and what PPQ does to help protect America’s agricultural and natural resources. Also, he’ll share what an Area Identifier Plant Pathologist/Botanist does for the agency: identifying and regulating Quarantine-Significant pests from entering the United States and working with domestic programs that are trying to remove Quarantine-Significant Pests within the country already, as well as partnering with Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists. Dustin will have a showcase of Plant Pathology and Botany interceptions with him and will show participants exotic, native, and invasive (including Quarantine-Significant Pest) specimens.