"Food seems very plentiful in this country so people don’t often realize that plant diseases are still a real threat to our agricultural system," states Noel T. Keen, president of APS. He adds that apples are a case in point, falling victim to a common bacterial disease called fire blight that is difficult to control and has become increasingly resistant to current methods to keep it at bay. Untreated, the disease could readily wipe out most of the nations apple harvests. States Keen, "We’ve long known that one significant tool for combating diseases like fire blight lies in the identification of the genes that make up these disease-causing agents. But getting funding to do this kind of work has been difficult."
Difficult that is until Congressman Smith looked at the issue. Concerned about the lack of funding for plant disease research, Smith spearheaded the development of H.R. 2508, the Plant Pathogen Genome Act of 2001, which would authorize $30 million in appropriations for a USDA plant pathogens genomics program. Also, Smith gained approval by the House Committee on Agriculture of legislation that establishes reducing the economic impact of plant pathogens on commercially important crop plants as a primary purpose for the USDA agricultural genome initiative. The legislation was included in the House version of the Farm Bill and awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.
"For years we’ve been holding up a red flag," states Keen, "saying that unless there was some kind of congressional support for this type of research, maintaining a food supply like the one we’ve grown accustomed to would become increasingly difficult."
APS members trust that, like Smith, other members of Congress will recognize the need for genomics of plant pathogens and will approve specific funding for such vital research. In the meantime, plant pathologists continue to explore ways in which the world’s food supply can be grown safely and efficiently in order to feed a growing world population. "This is a significant and highly important piece of legislation," states Keen. "And we’re relieved to have found a voice in Congress who appreciates its significance as well."
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a non-profit, professional scientific organization whose members are dedicated to the study and control of plant diseases.