Ballroom B/C
Wanderson Moraes
Research Scientist
Corteva Agriscience
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Katie Gold
Associate Professor
Cornell University
Geneva, New York, United States
Roy Davis, II, PhD
Postdoc
University of Connecticut
Stafford Springs, Connecticut, United States
Wanderson Moraes
Research Scientist
Corteva Agriscience
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Roy Davis, II, PhD
Postdoc
University of Connecticut
Stafford Springs, Connecticut, United States
APS Committee Sponsoring the Proposed Session: Epidemiology Committee (Sponsoring )
Disease Surveillance and Pathogen Detection Methods (Co-Sponsoring )
Crop Loss Assessment and Risk Evaluation (Co-Sponsoring )
External Group Support/Co-Organization: None
Description: Global trade and shifting climate patterns are accelerating the spread of invasive plant diseases, presenting significant threats to agriculture, ecosystems, and global food security. This session explores advanced modeling techniques, including AI-driven analytics, network modeling, and remote sensing, that enable accurate predictions of disease emergence and cross-border movement. Attendees will learn how spatial models integrate international trade data, climate suitability factors, and host plant distributions to effectively forecast outbreaks under uncertainty.
Through real-world case studies, the session will highlight user-friendly platforms and communication strategies that engage decision-makers ranging from policy officials to agricultural producers. Presenters will demonstrate tools designed to guide proactive surveillance efforts and optimal intervention strategies, illustrating the tangible benefits of interdisciplinary and international collaboration. With a strong focus on practical application, global data sharing, and stakeholder involvement, the session provides actionable knowledge valuable to professionals involved in plant disease monitoring, policymaking, and management.
Participants will leave with a clear, forward-looking perspective on utilizing state-of-the-art modeling approaches to promote plant health in our increasingly interconnected world.
Plant Health 2025 Theme: This session is intrinsically aligned with the Plant Health 2025 theme, "Global Communities Collaborating to Address Global Risks," by emphasizing the critical role of international collaboration in predicting and managing the spread of invasive plant diseases, an urgent global risk exacerbated by international trade and climate change.
By bringing together experts from various countries and disciplines—including plant pathologists, epidemiologists, and data scientists—we foster a collaborative environment where insights, data, and strategies are shared across borders. The session highlights the importance of open, globally available databases and international trade data in facilitating cross-border data sharing and analysis. By showcasing how international scientific collaboration and data sharing can enhance our collective capacity to promote plant health, we emphasize the critical importance of building bridges between research communities, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to develop more effective, coordinated responses to emerging plant health threats.
Addressing global risks through innovative strategies is at the core of this session. We demonstrate how innovative models like PoPS Global and Webidemics can forecast disease spread, optimize control strategies, and inform global surveillance efforts. Leveraging network analysis, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and aerosol transport modeling, we present state-of-the-art approaches to assessing global disease susceptibility and managing risks on a global scale. These advanced techniques improve predictive capabilities and support proactive responses to emerging threats.
The session contributes to enhancing global plant health by focusing on strategies to prevent and control the spread of invasive pests and pathogens, thereby safeguarding agriculture, ecosystems, and food security. By providing tools and models that inform policy decisions and management strategies, we aid countries in implementing effective biosecurity measures. Sharing user-friendly interfaces and communication strategies empowers stakeholders worldwide to understand and act upon complex epidemiological information, fostering capacity building and education.
Finally, the session fosters a global community committed to plant health by encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration among different fields, enhancing the development of comprehensive solutions to plant health challenges. By addressing the needs of policymakers, regulators, growers, and researchers, we promote a unified effort to tackle global risks. Aligning with the meeting's goal, the session is part of a worldwide movement dedicated to safeguarding plant health through shared knowledge and collaborative action.
In summary, by integrating advanced modeling techniques with international cooperation and effective communication, this session exemplifies how global communities can work together to address and mitigate the risks posed by invasive plant diseases. It supports the Plant Health 2025 theme by fostering collaboration, promoting innovative strategies, and contributing to a worldwide movement dedicated to enhancing global plant health.
Speaker: ROCIO CALDERON MADRID, PhD (she/her/hers) – Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (IAS-CSIC)
Speaker: Aaron Isaà Plex Sulá, BS – Plant Pathology Department, Global Food Systems Institute, 3Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Speaker: Van Schepler-Luu, Ph.D (she/her/hers) – International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
Speaker: Antonio Vicent Civera, PhD (he/him/his) – Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA)