Workshop on “Boosting Agricultural Resilience: Novel plant pests diagnostic techniques"
"Boosting Agricultural Resilience: Novel plant pests diagnostic techniques" - Advancing Knowledge Sharing in the IPPC Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP) and New Plant Pest Diagnostic Techniques with MAFF Japan
The workshop on knowledge sharing about the IPPC and its Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP) and processes and, new plant pest diagnostic techniques aims to build capacity and knowledge sharing about the topic. This event will provide a platform for TPDP experts, researchers, and NPPO from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF-Japan) to brainstorm, collaborate, and exchange innovative ideas to improve plant pest diagnostics.
It is also expected that participants will enhance their understanding about the IPPC standard setting procedure, how NPPOs and their employees can be involved (e.g. nominating experts during calls, participating in consultations) and benefit from it.
The concept note and proposed agenda is provided below.
Date: 25 October 2024
Objectives:
1) Facilitate the dissemination of the IPPC standard setting procedure and the work of the Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP).
2) Foster collaboration among the TPDP members, IPPC Secretariat and NPPO of Japan to enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building on cutting-edge plant pest diagnostic technologies and methodologies.
3) Information sharing on strategies for early detection and effective management of plant pests using advanced diagnostic techniques.
4) Networking opportunities for participants to share experiences, ideas, and best practices.
Audience:
IPPC secretariat staff, Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP) members, MAFF NPPO staff and researchers.
Key Takeaways:
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Increased awareness of the IPPC procedure and the work of the TPDP.
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Increased knowledge of the latest advancements in plant pest diagnostic techniques.
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Increased knowledge of the work of MAFF on plant pests diagnostics.
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Enhanced collaboration among participants to improve knowledge sharing.
Location: Yokohama Shinko Government Office Building, 3F, Meeting room B (TPDP meeting venue)
Abstracts and presentations: These will be made available in due course
For more information please contact:
Presenters
 | Dr. Adriana Gonçalves Moreira – Deputy Lead to the Standard Setting Unit of the IPPC Secretariat Adriana G. Moreira supports the coordination of the work of the IPPC Standards Committee, IPPC technical panels and expert working groups, which contribute to drafting International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). Adriana is the IPPC Secretariat’s liaison with several international organizations, helping to ensure mutual interest agreements for implementation of IPPC strategic objectives, mission and vision. She has authored and co-authored several scientific publications, book chapters and training materials. In 2019, she was recognized as one of the FAO 100 Young Employees and, in 2024 she has been recognized by Forbes magazine Brazil as one of the 50 women prominent in the agriculture and bioenergy sector. Before joining the IPPC, Adriana was a senior plant pathologist in the multinational seed industry. As a plant quarantine lead, she coordinated a post-entry quarantine station accredited by the Brazilian national plant protection organization. Adriana has a PhD in plant pathology, focusing on plant virology. |
 | Dr. Andrew Sarkodie Appiah – TPDP member, Virology expert Dr Andrew Sarkodie Appiah is a senior Research Scientist and the manager of the Plant Disease Research Centre (PDRC) of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute-Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. He obtained his first degree at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana in the year 2000 and an MPhil degree in Mutation Breeding and Plant Biotechnology from the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, in the year 2010. In 2013, Dr Appiah was awarded an Australian Aid for International Development (AusAID) scholarship to pursue a PhD progarmme at the University of Tasmania, Australia, where he studied Agricultural Science, specializing in Plant Virology. He has over a decade of research experience in Plant Virology research and is committed to providing valuable information on plant viral diseases of food crops through his peer-reviewed publications. His major skills include but not limited to plant DNA/RNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (cPCR, RT-PCR, qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), transmission of plant viruses (using insect vectors, grafting and sap inoculation), genetic transformation, CRISPR Cas9 genome editing and analysis of DNA sequence data (including Next Generation Sequencing data). Dr Appiah is currently playing a leading role in plant disease surveillance in Ghana and the establishment of genome editing platform at BNARI with a UC Davies-funded project in rice for disease resistance. In the year 2022, Dr Appiah was nominated to serve on the Technical Panel for Diagnostic Protocols (TDPP) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as a Virology Expert. He also teaches Plant Virology and Viral Diseases at the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, where he mentors graduate students. |
 | Dr. Yazmín Rivera – TPDP member, Mycology expert Dr. Yazmín Rivera is an Assistant Laboratory Director at the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Science and Technology, Plant Pathogen Confirmatory Diagnostics Laboratory in Laurel MD. She leads a scientific team working on the evaluation, development, and validation of molecular methods for the detection and identification of regulated and quarantine plant pathogens to support PPQ programs and mission. Her team works on validation of HTS protocols for specialty crops, development of targeted and untargeted HTS protocols for various plant pathogen groups, and development and validation of PCR-based methods and portable detection tools such as RPA, LAMP and CRISPR-Cas. Dr. Rivera has experience leading the deployment of molecular diagnostic tools at ports of entry. She has been a Mycology Discipline Lead in the IPPC Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols since 2020. |
 | Mr. Kazuki Nakae – MAFF Japan Kazuki Nakae is a researcher of Entomology and Nematology section at Research division in Yokohama Plant Protection Station (YPPS). He works on research and identification for plant parasitic nematodes (e.g. Meloidogyne spp.). |
 | Ms. Haruka Oda – MAFF Japan Haruka Oda is a researcher of Entomology and Nematology section at Research division in Yokohama Plant Protection Station (YPPS). She researches molecular diagnostics of fruit flies and Euscepes postfasciatus larvae, and host preference of Cylas formicarius. |
 | Ms. Miyu Matsuyama – MAFF Japan Miyu Matsuyama is a researcher of Plant Pathology Section of the Research Division, Yokohama Plant Protection Station MAFF, Japan. She conducts surveillance of plant pathogenic fungi domestically and internationally and develops inspection methods for these fungi. |
| Dr. Shigeyuki Sekimoto – MAFF Japan Dr. Shigeyuki Sekimoto is the Identification Officer of the Pest Identification Section at Yokohama Plant Protection Station, MAFF. He completed a PhD in Agricultural Science at Hokkaido University in 2017. His work is an identification of the plant-parasitic nematodes found in plant quarantine. | |