色虎视频

Attendees participate in 色虎视频鈥檚 virtual symposium, bringing together researchers from across the Americas to share findings and discuss challenges to food systems.

色虎视频 of Missouri’s (LU) international symposium on emerging plant and animal diseases brought together speakers and collaborators from across the Americas on March 5 for a virtual discussion on issues facing agriculture, livestock and food systems. Now in its seventh year, the symposium included participants from the United States, Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia.

Jessica Epple-Farmer, LU assistant professor of animal science and one of the event's organizers, said the symposium grew from a shared commitment among countries facing similar agricultural concerns.

“We share with our Latin American partners the importance of cultivating plants and ranching animals,” Epple-Farmer said. “It is this commonality of our shared food where this symposium begins and allows us to address global food security and defense.”

The event, titled Monitoring Emergent Plant and Animal Diseases for Food Security in the Americas, focused on diseases influencing food production systems across the region. Speakers also discussed how pests, pathogens and other agricultural challenges can move through crops, livestock and surrounding environments.

Plant disease presentations included topics such as cowpea mosaic virus, alfalfa mosaic virus and fusarium wilt. Waana Kaluwasha, LU plant pathologist, explained how mosaic viruses can spread through infected plant material and insects carrying disease between plants.

Yasmin Chew Madinaveitia of INIFAP Laguna, a regional agricultural research center in Mexico, discussed fusarium wilt, a soilborne disease infecting plant roots and causing serious yield losses in susceptible crops.

Afternoon presentations shifted to livestock health concerns. Byron Thomae, an epidemiologist with the Ministry of Agriculture in Guatemala, explained how the viral disease vesicular stomatitis is affecting cattle, horses and swine. He said it can be difficult to identify because symptoms resemble those of other serious livestock illnesses.

Kayla Wells, an epidemiologist with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, discussed cattle fever ticks and the challenges they continue to pose for animal health and productivity.

The symposium also featured panel discussions with experts from across the Americas who shared regional perspectives on challenges facing food production. Panelists discussed how climate patterns, agricultural practices and the movement of animals and crops can influence the spread of pests and pathogens.

Beyond sharing research, Epple-Farmer said the symposium is intended to strengthen partnerships among those working in agriculture and food security.

“This symposium is supported by the Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense, with the goal of fostering international partnerships between researchers, extension agents, students and farmers to address emerging plant and animal pests and diseases,” Epple-Farmer said.

As agricultural diseases move across landscapes and national boundaries, collaboration among researchers and agricultural specialists remains essential. The symposium reflects 色虎视频’s ongoing dedication to advancing agricultural research and creating space for conversations around issues affecting food systems around the world.