Transcript The Agricultural Research Service - FLC Mid

Nurturing International Partnerships to Support
U.S. Agriculture
Mission of ARS
“Our mission is to find
solutions to agricultural
problems that affect Americans
every day, from field to table,
and to transfer discoveries to
society as useful technology
and knowledge”
ARS Profile
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In-house scientific
research arm of
USDA
Farm-to-table
research scope
Information and
technology transfer
22 National
Programs
1,100+ projects
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2,200+ scientists
100+ laboratories
$1.1 billion annual
budget (FY05)
International
collaboration
Partnerships with
universities and
industry
ARS Technology Transfer
Responsible for:
– Protecting intellectual property,
– Developing strategic partnerships
with outside organizations and
performing activities that effectively
transfer ARS technologies to the
market place.
ARS International
Activities
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Cooperative international research
Host international visitors and scientific
visits
International correspondence
International agreements
Inter-agency and international fora
Information on international activities
Joint Projects = Success
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ARS – Russia project to combat foodborne
bacterial pathogens such as Campylobacter
and Salmonella
ARS scientists from Florida and the
Australian Biological Control Lab in Brisbane
work together to control melaleuca, an
invasive species to the Florida everglades
ARS – Russia Cooperation
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Problem:
– Control Food-borne pathogens like
Campylobacter and Salmonella in poultry
– Responsible for billions of dollars of
economic losses in the United States and
worldwide
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Solution:
– Identify candidate bacteriocins that kill
food-borne, human disease-causing
bacteria
Bacteriocins
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Small proteins produced by
bacteria to kill competing
target pathogens
Promising alternative to
antibiotics
Kills antibiotic resistant
bacteria
Does not create bacteriocinresistant target
ARS – Russia Cooperation
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Project team screened
>35,000 bacterial isolates
for antagonistic activity to
Campylobacter jejuni
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Hundreds produce zones
of inhibition
Among the most inhibitory
isolates, unique
bacteriocins are produced
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ARS – Russia Cooperation
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Funded by the U.S. Department of
State Bio/Chem Redirect Program
– Involves former biological weapons
scientists in the FSU.
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Jointly developed by USDA/ARS &
Russian scientists
Implemented by International Science
& Technology Center, Moscow, Russia
International Partners
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U.S. Department of State – Bio/Chem Redirect
Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Ag. Research
Service
– Poultry Microbiological Safety Unit, Athens, GA
– International Office, Beltsville, MD
– Technology Transfer Office, Athens, GA & Beltsville,
MD
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State Research Center for Applied Microbiology &
Biotechnology (SRCAMB), Obolensk, Russia
International Science and Technology Center
(ISTC), Moscow, Russia
Formal Agreements
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MOA between USDA/ARS & DOS
MOA between USDA/ARS & ISTC
Individual Project Agreement between
USDA/ARS, ISTC & SRCAMB
– Includes specific IP language drafted & approved
by USDA/ARS – OTT
– Close coordination with Tech Transfer
Coordinators & Patent Advisors
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Follow on agreement between USDA/ARS,
DOS, ISTC & SRCAMB to fund pilot
production project
Positive Results to Date
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Dr. Edward Svetoch, SRCAMB and Dr. Norman
Stern, USDA-ARS, Athens, GA
– IP jointly owned by ARS & Russian scientists
– “Bacteriocins and novel bacteria strains” -- patent
allowed (10/426,688)
– 5 other applications pending or filed
– CRADA - Trust Agreement with Cargill, Inc.
– Publications in peer-reviewed journals
– New $1 M project jointly funded by
DOS/BioIndustry Initiative Program and USDA/ARS
for pilot production of bacteriocins in Russia –
includes industry collaboration
Svetoch and Stern share a patent award
Anticipated Next Steps
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SRCAMB/ARS/Cargill (through DOS
resources) conduct large broiler field
trials
Identify industrial partner(s) to license
IP and develop applications worldwide
Patent and publish
Determine further applications – human
health?
Invasive Species Impact on
U.S. Agriculture
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Problem:
– Invasive Australian tree species,
Melaleuca, infests about 1.5 million acres
in Florida’s Everglades and surrounding
wetland areas.
– Expands 15 acres per day
– Threatens biodiversity of Florida’s
Everglades – World Heritage ecosystem
– Economic losses approx. $170 million/year
Invasive Species Impact on
U.S. Agriculture
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Solution:
– Identify effective biological control
agents
– Safest & most economical for
sustainable management
– Utilize large consortium of Federal,
State, local and private sector
customers & stakeholders to support
management
International Partners
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ARS Australian
Biological Control
Laboratory (ABCL),
Brisbane, Australia
ARS Invasive Plant
Research Laboratory
(IPRL), Florida
Commonwealth
Scientific & Industrial
Research Organization
(CSIRO), Australia
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South Florida Water
Management District
University of Florida
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
U.S. Department of
Interior - National Park
Service
Dade County
Lee County
ARS Australian Biological Control
Laboratory
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ABCL was established in 1995 through a
Specific Cooperative Agreement with
CSIRO to focus on Florida Everglades
Restoration.
Studies include Australian broad-leaved
paperbark tree, old world climbing fern,
Australian Pine, hydrilla, skunk vine and
melaleuca, and released 6 agents to U.S.
ARS Efforts to Combat
Invasive Species
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IPRL and ABCL scientists
collected and identified over 450
insect species that feed on
melaleuca and its close relatives
Two selected for further
evaluation and released in Florida
in 1997 & 2002
Total of 1.9 million weevils &
psyllids released in 319 localities
within 15 counties in central and
southern Florida
Joint Project = Success
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Impact:
– Seed production reduction to 90%
– Stand densities reduced >70%
– Melaleuca nearly gone from public lands
– Native plants reappearing
The Area Wide Management Program of
Melaleuca (TAME Melaleuca) – Consortium
of Federal, State, County & Local partners
IPRL, South Florida Water Management
District, University of Florida received a top
ARS technology transfer award in 2006.
Contact Info
Melanie Peterson
International Affairs Specialist
Office of International Research Programs
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Tel: 301-504-4540
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 301-504-4518