The T-STAR
Caribbean program in tropical/subtropical agriculture research is
administered under the direction of a Technical Committee (known as CBAG) made up of
representatives of three participating universities, the Executive Director of the
Southern Association of Experiment Station Directors, USDA/CSREES and USDA/ARS. The
three universities are: The University of Florida, the University of Puerto Rico and the
University of the Virgin Islands. Currently these representatives are:
Dr. William Brown,
Assistant Dean for Research, University of Florida
Dr. Ernesto Riquelme,
Dean/Director, University of Puerto Rico
Dr. James Rakocy,
Director, University of the Virgin Islands
Dr. Thomas Helms,
Executive Director, Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
Dr. J. Preston Jones,
Program Manager, USDA/CSREES, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Ricardo Goenage,
USDA/ARS Director, Tropical Agriculture Research Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Dr. John Neilson,
Program Manager for the Caribbean Basin Group, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida 32611-0200. Dr. Neilson coordinates and implements Committee
decisions.
| NEWS: Watch for newly funded projects (2001) here! |
T-STAR Caribbean
solicits research proposals from the faculties of the three universities, put them out to
external peer review, and the Technical Committee meets each April to evaluate and select
proposals to be submitted to USDA/CSREES for funding. Funding is on an annual basis;
therefore, CBAG also decides on funding allocations for second and third years following
the initial year of research. CBAG also meets in October at one of the sites where
T-STAR research is in progress. At this meeting, members are given presentations by
Principal Investigators of funded projects and have an opportunity to view actual research
in progress. For complete CBAG information, see the Operational
Policies section. However, eliminating the Preproposal
will require changing some of these policies (to be discussed in Fall 2001).
Research goals and objectives for the T-STAR program are set forth in a Strategic Plan developed jointly by T-STAR-Caribbean and
T-STAR-Pacific. The objectives of individual research projects are targeted toward
the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan. In T-STAR-Caribbean, individual
research projects relate directly to the interests of Caribbean agriculture, including
some of its impacts on continental US agriculture.
Full Proposal Guidelines and Formats
If you are a faculty member at the participating campuses of the University of Florida, the University of Puerto Rico or the University of the
Virgin Islands, you
may submit a Full Proposal after the late summer RFP
is posted. Check with your Program Manager for the deadlines. The Full Proposal Guidelines (PDF file) are posted here but may change slightly during
2001. The USDA-CSREES website holds several, key downloadable forms necessary for
the T-STAR Full Proposal. They can be accessed by selecting the Standard Application Kit in
either Word or Word Perfect. Consult the T-STAR Full Guidelines directions above to
determine which forms to select from the CSREES site.
Additional T-STAR Goal: Invasive
Species research has been added as a Goal area for T-STAR. Guidelines for research
areas may be found among the Proceedings from the following 2000 workshop listed below.
For further information, contact the Program Manager.
Research Priorities for Mitigating
the Effects of Pests on Trade and Agriculture
1.
Effectiveness of pest risk mitigation at point of origin:
1a. Ecological requirements of pest-free zones with respect to major
diseases, insect pests, weeds, etc. affecting the importation or export of certain crops
or livestock.
1b. Development of
technologies for pest risk mitigation at point of origin including methods of detection,
statistically-valid sampling and methods of suppression..
2.
Application of GPS and GIS technologies to track and analyze the distribution and
movements of various exotic pests in the Caribbean Basin. In addition, these studies
should be conducted in a manner likely to improve the basic ecologic database on pests,
and to identify factors which cause the severity of a pest to increase after it has left
its center of origin.
3. Analysis of factors which
contribute to the "invasiveness" of certain important pests.
4. Development of technology to
detect and suppress dangerous harmful organisms which have gained a foothold in the
Caribbean Basin.
5. Development of eradication or
pest management technology for incipient infestations of vectors and corresponding
pathogens when establishment of the complement in imminent.
For example: The vector of citrus
greening disease, the Asian citrus psyllid, has become established in Palm Beach County,
Florida, but the causal bacterium has not yet penetrated US mainland quarantines. A system
is needed to prevent the spread of the vector, and for eradicating the bacterium should it
arrive in mainland US. In part, such research should be conducted outside the US where
both the vector and pathogen co-exist.
6. Development of eradication or
pest management technologies for exotic organisms known to be very damaging and difficult
to control prior to their arrival in the Caribbean Basin and mainland US.
For example: Host plant resistance
against various pests should be developed using gene banks maintained by the CGIAR and
NARS.
7. Conduct selected taxonomic
studies on pest complexes of special importance in tropical agriculture. For example:
biotypes of whiteflies, closely related geminiviruses, mealybugs, aphids, scale insects,
etc. Catalogue those that represent threats to mainland US agriculture.
8. Develop cost-effective and
environmentally acceptable quarantine treatments and "systems approaches" for
commodities important to Caribbean island nations as potential export products, especially
those targeted for import into mainland US. Consider such technologies as heat, cold,
irradiation, fumigation, etc.
9. Leverage available funds by
partnering with entities which are prepared to make available considerable resources, such
as the CGIAR Centers.
10. Establish working partnerships
with research organizations in the Caribbean Basin to create a major focus on pests having
the potential to severely damage agriculture or trade opportunities throughout the region.
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