Education

UF tapped by State Department to lead global crop biosecurity lab

The University of Florida has been selected by the U.S. Department of State to direct the new Feed the Future Innovation Lab for High-Value Crops, known as SAFE, which aims to detect and contain agricultural pests and diseases in seven partner countries before they reach American farms. Led by UF/IFAS plant pathologist Karen Garrett, the lab will deploy artificial intelligence, crop modeling, field diagnostics, and breeding programs across Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic. The initiative also targets reducing postharvest food losses, improving food safety, and expanding market access for smallholder farmers worldwide.

Sources: UF News