Nurturing International Partnerships to Support U.S. Agriculture

          

Mission of ARSMission of ARS

““Our mission is to find Our mission is to find solutions to agricultural solutions to agricultural problems that affect problems that affect Americans every day, from Americans every day, from field to table, and to transfer field to table, and to transfer discoveries to society as discoveries to society as useful technology and useful technology and knowledge”knowledge”

2,200+ scientists2,200+ scientists 100+ laboratories100+ laboratories $1.1 billion $1.1 billion

annual budget annual budget (FY05)(FY05)

International International collaborationcollaboration

Partnerships with Partnerships with universities and universities and industryindustry

In-house scientific In-house scientific research arm of research arm of USDAUSDA

Farm-to-table Farm-to-table research scoperesearch scope

Information and Information and technology technology transfertransfer

22 National 22 National ProgramsPrograms

1,100+ projects1,100+ projects

ARS ProfileARS Profile

ARS Technology ARS Technology TransferTransfer

Responsible for:Responsible for:– Protecting intellectual property, Protecting intellectual property, – Developing strategic Developing strategic

partnerships with outside partnerships with outside organizations and performing organizations and performing activities that effectively activities that effectively transfer ARS technologies to the transfer ARS technologies to the market place.market place.

ARS International ARS International ActivitiesActivities Cooperative international researchCooperative international research Host international visitors and Host international visitors and

scientific visitsscientific visits International correspondenceInternational correspondence International agreementsInternational agreements Inter-agency and international foraInter-agency and international fora Information on international Information on international

activitiesactivities

Joint Projects = Joint Projects = SuccessSuccess ARS – Russia project to combat ARS – Russia project to combat

foodborne bacterial pathogens such as foodborne bacterial pathogens such as Campylobacter Campylobacter and and SalmonellaSalmonella

ARS scientists from Florida and the ARS scientists from Florida and the Australian Biological Control Lab in Australian Biological Control Lab in Brisbane work together to control Brisbane work together to control melaleuca, an invasive species to the melaleuca, an invasive species to the Florida evergladesFlorida everglades

ARS – Russia ARS – Russia CooperationCooperation Problem: Problem:

– Control Food-borne pathogens like Control Food-borne pathogens like Campylobacter Campylobacter and and Salmonella Salmonella in in poultrypoultry

– Responsible for billions of dollars of Responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses in the United States economic losses in the United States and worldwideand worldwide

Solution:Solution:– Identify candidate bacteriocins that Identify candidate bacteriocins that

kill food-borne, human disease-kill food-borne, human disease-causing bacteriacausing bacteria

BacteriocinsBacteriocins

Small proteins produced by Small proteins produced by bacteria to kill competing bacteria to kill competing target pathogenstarget pathogens

Promising alternative to Promising alternative to antibioticsantibiotics

Kills antibiotic resistant Kills antibiotic resistant bacteriabacteria

Does not create bacteriocin-Does not create bacteriocin-resistant targetresistant target

ARS – Russia ARS – Russia CooperationCooperation

Project team screened Project team screened >35,000 bacterial >35,000 bacterial isolates for antagonistic isolates for antagonistic activity to activity to Campylobacter jejuniCampylobacter jejuni

Hundreds produce zones Hundreds produce zones of inhibitionof inhibition

Among the most Among the most inhibitory isolates, inhibitory isolates, unique bacteriocins are unique bacteriocins are producedproduced

1 2 3 4

ARS – Russia ARS – Russia CooperationCooperation Funded by the U.S. Department of Funded by the U.S. Department of

State Bio/Chem Redirect ProgramState Bio/Chem Redirect Program– Involves former biological weapons Involves former biological weapons

scientists in the FSU.scientists in the FSU. Jointly developed by USDA/ARS & Jointly developed by USDA/ARS &

Russian scientistsRussian scientists Implemented by International Implemented by International

Science & Technology Center, Science & Technology Center, Moscow, RussiaMoscow, Russia

International Partners International Partners

U.S. Department of State – Bio/Chem U.S. Department of State – Bio/Chem Redirect ProgramRedirect Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture – Ag. U.S. Department of Agriculture – Ag. Research ServiceResearch Service– Poultry Microbiological Safety Unit, Athens, GAPoultry Microbiological Safety Unit, Athens, GA– International Office, Beltsville, MDInternational Office, Beltsville, MD– Technology Transfer Office, Athens, GA & Technology Transfer Office, Athens, GA &

Beltsville, MDBeltsville, MD State Research Center for Applied State Research Center for Applied

Microbiology & Biotechnology (SRCAMB), Microbiology & Biotechnology (SRCAMB), Obolensk, RussiaObolensk, Russia

International Science and Technology Center International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), Moscow, Russia(ISTC), Moscow, Russia

Formal AgreementsFormal Agreements

MOA between USDA/ARS & DOSMOA between USDA/ARS & DOS MOA between USDA/ARS & ISTCMOA between USDA/ARS & ISTC Individual Project Agreement between Individual Project Agreement between

USDA/ARS, ISTC & SRCAMBUSDA/ARS, ISTC & SRCAMB– Includes specific IP language drafted & Includes specific IP language drafted &

approved by USDA/ARS – OTTapproved by USDA/ARS – OTT– Close coordination with Tech Transfer Close coordination with Tech Transfer

Coordinators & Patent Advisors Coordinators & Patent Advisors Follow on agreement between Follow on agreement between

USDA/ARS, DOS, ISTC & SRCAMB to USDA/ARS, DOS, ISTC & SRCAMB to fund pilot production projectfund pilot production project

Positive Results to Positive Results to DateDate

Dr. Edward Svetoch, SRCAMB and Dr. Dr. Edward Svetoch, SRCAMB and Dr. Norman Stern, USDA-ARS, Athens, GANorman Stern, USDA-ARS, Athens, GA– IP jointly owned by ARS & Russian scientistsIP jointly owned by ARS & Russian scientists– ““Bacteriocins and novel bacteria strains” -- Bacteriocins and novel bacteria strains” --

patent allowed (10/426,688)patent allowed (10/426,688)– 5 other applications pending or filed5 other applications pending or filed– CRADA - Trust Agreement with Cargill, Inc.CRADA - Trust Agreement with Cargill, Inc.– Publications in peer-reviewed journalsPublications in peer-reviewed journals– New $1 M project jointly funded by New $1 M project jointly funded by

DOS/BioIndustry Initiative Program and DOS/BioIndustry Initiative Program and USDA/ARS for pilot production of USDA/ARS for pilot production of bacteriocins in Russia – includes industry bacteriocins in Russia – includes industry collaborationcollaboration

Svetoch and Stern share a patent award

Anticipated Next StepsAnticipated Next Steps

SRCAMB/ARS/Cargill (through DOS SRCAMB/ARS/Cargill (through DOS resources) conduct large broiler resources) conduct large broiler field trialsfield trials

Identify industrial partner(s) to Identify industrial partner(s) to license IP and develop applications license IP and develop applications worldwideworldwide

Patent and publishPatent and publish Determine further applications – Determine further applications –

human health?human health?

Invasive Species Impact Invasive Species Impact on U.S. Agricultureon U.S. Agriculture

Problem: Problem: – Invasive Australian tree species, Invasive Australian tree species,

Melaleuca, Melaleuca, infests about 1.5 million infests about 1.5 million acres in Florida’s Everglades and acres in Florida’s Everglades and surrounding wetland areas. surrounding wetland areas.

– Expands 15 acres per dayExpands 15 acres per day– Threatens biodiversity of Florida’s Threatens biodiversity of Florida’s

Everglades – World Heritage ecosystemEverglades – World Heritage ecosystem– Economic losses approx. $170 Economic losses approx. $170

million/yearmillion/year

Invasive Species Impact Invasive Species Impact on U.S. Agricultureon U.S. Agriculture

Solution: Solution: – Identify effective biological Identify effective biological

control agentscontrol agents– Safest & most economical for Safest & most economical for

sustainable managementsustainable management– Utilize large consortium of Utilize large consortium of

Federal, State, local and private Federal, State, local and private sector customers & stakeholders sector customers & stakeholders to support managementto support management

International PartnersInternational Partners

ARS Australian ARS Australian Biological Control Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL), Laboratory (ABCL), Brisbane, AustraliaBrisbane, Australia

ARS Invasive Plant ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory Research Laboratory (IPRL), Florida(IPRL), Florida

Commonwealth Commonwealth Scientific & Scientific & Industrial Research Industrial Research Organization Organization (CSIRO), Australia(CSIRO), Australia

South Florida Water South Florida Water Management Management District District

University of FloridaUniversity of Florida U.S. Army Corps of U.S. Army Corps of

EngineersEngineers U.S. Department of U.S. Department of

Interior - National Interior - National Park ServicePark Service

Dade CountyDade County Lee CountyLee County

ARS Australian Biological ARS Australian Biological Control LaboratoryControl Laboratory

ABCL was established in 1995 ABCL was established in 1995 through a Specific Cooperative through a Specific Cooperative Agreement with CSIRO to focus on Agreement with CSIRO to focus on Florida Everglades Restoration. Florida Everglades Restoration.

Studies include Australian broad-Studies include Australian broad-leaved paperbark tree, old world leaved paperbark tree, old world climbing fern, Australian Pine, climbing fern, Australian Pine, hydrilla, skunk vine and hydrilla, skunk vine and melaleucamelaleuca, , and released 6 agents to U.S. and released 6 agents to U.S.

ARS Efforts to Combat ARS Efforts to Combat Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

IPRL and ABCL scientists IPRL and ABCL scientists collected and identified over collected and identified over 450 insect species that feed on 450 insect species that feed on melaleuca and its close melaleuca and its close relativesrelatives

Two selected for further Two selected for further evaluation and released in evaluation and released in Florida in 1997 & 2002Florida in 1997 & 2002

Total of 1.9 million weevils & Total of 1.9 million weevils & psyllids released in 319 psyllids released in 319 localities within 15 counties in localities within 15 counties in central and southern Floridacentral and southern Florida

Joint Project = SuccessJoint Project = Success

Impact: 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 The Area Wide Management Program of Melaleuca (TAME Melaleuca) – ConsortiumMelaleuca (TAME Melaleuca) – Consortiumof Federal, State, County & Local partnersof Federal, State, County & Local partners

IPRL, South Florida Water Management IPRL, South Florida Water Management District, University of Florida received a District, University of Florida received a top ARS technology transfer award in top ARS technology transfer award in 2006.2006.

Contact InfoContact Info

Melanie PetersonMelanie PetersonInternational Affairs SpecialistInternational Affairs Specialist

Office of International Research Office of International Research Programs Programs

Agricultural Research Service, USDAAgricultural Research Service, USDATel: 301-504-4540Tel: 301-504-4540

Email: Email: Melanie.Peterson@ars.usda.govMelanie.Peterson@ars.usda.govFax: 301-504-4518Fax: 301-504-4518