overview
ERS initiated a new program of work in fiscal year 2003 to examine
the economic issues related to managing invasive pests in increasingly
global agricultural markets. The ERS program focuses on national decisionmaking
concerning invasive species of agricultural significance or affecting,
or affected by, USDA programs.
“Invasive species” are defined broadly to include any
vertebrate, invertebrate, weed, fungi, plant disease, livestock
disease or other organism that:
• Is non-native, alien, or exotic to the ecosystem where
it exists or potentially could be introduced – including
agricultural, range, and forest ecosystems; and
• When introduced causes, or is likely to cause, economic
or environmental harm.
Many insect, disease, and weed pests of food, fiber, and nursery
crops, and many nonnative animal pests and diseases pose threats
to U.S. agricultural production and exports. Examples include Mediterranean
fruit fly (Medfly), citrus canker, Asian longhorn beetle, Foot-and-Mouth
Disease, Karnal bunt wheat fungus, Exotic Newcastle Disease of poultry,
and Leafy Spurge, each of which highlights a concern about economic
or environmental losses.
Trade is essential to the U.S. agricultural sector, with earnings
from U.S. exports accounting for as much as 30 percent of total
farm receipts. Increased movement of people and products across
international borders creates new risks of introducing invasive
species that can damage food and fiber production. This research
program assesses public sector measures for reducing economic risks
to U.S. agriculture from invasive species, while preserving economic
gains from trade and travel. More
overview...
contents
features
 Program
of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management (PREISM)—Proposals
were solicited for a 2004 competitive awards program on the economics
of invasive species management. For more information, read the Request
for Proposals. (See Summaries of 2004
PREISM awards).
PREISM Workshop
— ERS and the Farm Foundation co-sponsored a review
of the research projects funded by the ERS Program on the Economics
of Invasive Species Management (PREISM) on August 19 and 20, 2004
in Washington, D.C. The objective of the workshop was to review
the progress and/or preliminary results of each 2003
PREISM grant or cooperative agreement. PREISM awardees and cooperators
made brief presentations and a discussant commented on each paper
presented. Dr. Charles Perrings from the University of York (UK)
was the keynote speaker. The review and workshop brought together
academic researchers as well as representatives from a variety of
Federal agencies concerned with various economic aspects of preventing,
monitoring and managing invasive species.
Economic
and Policy Implications of Wind-Borne Entry of Asian Soybean Rust
into the United States—American soybean producers and the
research, regulatory, and extension institutions supporting them
are preparing for the potential wind-borne entry of Asian soybean
rust into the United States. This report examines how the economic
impacts of soybean rust establishment will depend on the timing,
location, spread, and severity of rust infestation and on how soybean
and other crop producers, livestock producers, and consumers of
agricultural commodities respond to this new pathogen. (April 2004)
Amber
Waves Summary article
recommended readings
A Framework for Analyzing Technical
Trade Barriers in Agricultural Markets—Technical trade
barriers are increasingly important in international agricultural
trade. Designing technical trade measures that can satisfy the growing
demand for food safety, product differentiation, environmental amenities,
and product information at the lowest cost to the consumer and to
the international trading system requires an understanding of the
complex economics of regulatory import barriers. This report proposes
a definition and classification scheme to frame discussion and evaluation
of such measures. TB-1876 (3/99).
Incorporating Science,
Economics, and Sociology in Developing Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Standards in International Trade—As the world economy has
moved toward more open trade, there has been increasing focus on
managing potential conflicts with a country's right to take measures
to protect its citizens, production systems, and environment from
risks and effects of such protection on trade. In 1998, ERS asked
the National Research Council to organize a conference to address
the roles of science, economics, and culture in agricultural trade
policy, focusing on sanitary and phytosanitary standards. This book
is the proceedings of that conference, including 11 papers on risk
assessment, invasive species, and consumer preferences, and three
case studies focusing on meat processing, plant quarantine, and
genetically modified crops.
recent research developments
Meetings, conferences, and research activity
in the invasive species management area.
related briefing rooms
Ag Chemicals and Production Technology
U.S. Agricultural Trade
image gallery
Not
All Alien Invaders Are From Outer Space—Poster from APHIS,
USDA.
related links
Plant Protection and Quarantine
Program, APHIS, USDA
Veterinary
Services, Disease Eradication Program, APHIS, USDA
Invasivespecies.gov,
coordinated by the National Agricultural Library, USDA
Crop
Protection and Quarantine Program, Agricultural Research Service,
USDA
Animal
Health Program, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
more links...
for more information, contact:
Craig Osteen and Donna
Roberts
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: October
15 , 2004
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