Fundamentals of (Pest) Risk Analysis

PP/ENT 460 – SP FDM PEST RSK AN

One (1) credit – Fall semester 2006

 

Instructor

Dr. Stephanie Bloem, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST-PERAL

Office - 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300, NCSU Centennial Campus

Phone - (919) 855-7650

Fax – (919) 855-7599

Email - Stephanie.Bloem@aphis.usda.gov

 

Lecture Schedule

Tuesday 3:35 – 5:25 p.m.

 

Lecture Location

1109 Jordan Hall

 

Textbooks and References

No textbooks are required for this course; readings will be handed-out during class.  Required readings must be completed before attending class as they will supplement the material presented during lectures.

 

Course Description

The unintentional introduction of alien pests causes agricultural losses and environmental damages in the billions of dollars each year.  The future of U.S. agricultural productivity and marketing depends on the ability of regulatory professionals to prevent these introductions from occurring and take rapid action to minimize their impacts once a pest introduction does occur.  Fundamentals of (Pest) Risk Analysis is a new 1 credit course offered at NCSU for the first time in fall 2006.  The course is open to upper class undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of Entomology, Plant Pathology, Environmental Technology and related fields who are interested in learning about the challenges, concepts, framework, tools and methodologies used in Pest Risk Analysis in the context government policy and decision-making.  The course has no specific prerequisites, but assumes students have a basic knowledge of pest management principles and of their discipline of study.

 

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course the participants will:

1. understand the historical context of Risk Analysis;
2. understand the role of and rationale for conducting Risk Analysis in general and Pest Risk Analysis in particular;
3. understand the role of science (Entomology, Plant Pathology, Weed Science, etc.) in forming policy and aiding in regulatory decision-making,
4. have an understanding of the structure and function of, as well as of the challenges faced by, the different governmental organizations tasked with promoting trade while safeguarding agriculture and natural resources;
5. have knowledge pertaining to the legal and regulatory framework that supports and guides the application of Pest Risk Analysis, both at the national and international levels;
6. be familiar with qualitative and quantitative tools to conduct Risk Assessments, and,
7. posses the necessary training to be able to accurately prepare, direct and/or evaluate a pest, commodity or pathway Risk Analysis.

 

Grading Policy

Freshmen, sophomore

Participation in discussions and exercises / class attendance - 40%

Final exam – 60%

Grading scale A-F

 

Junior, Senior, Graduate students, independent study

Participation in discussions and exercises / class attendance - 30%

Final exam – 50%

Group project and presentation - 20%

Grading scale A-F

 

Late policy for assignments

Assignments/exercises are due in class on the due date.  Unless arrangements are made in advance, late policy reports will automatically be penalized 5% as well as an additional 5% for each day the assignment is late.

 

Attendance policy

See grading policy above.

 

Academic Honesty, code of Student Conduct and the Honor Pledge

Students are expected to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct, which is available at: www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student/conduct/POL445.001.htm.

 

Students with Disabilities

Reasonable accommodation will be made for students with disabilities.  In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center (515-7653).  For more information on services for disabled students visit www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss.

 

NO CELLPHONES ON DURING CLASS

Course Syllabus – PP/ENT 460

 

Week	Tuesday	Topic	Outline of lectures
1	Aug. 29	How class will function     Risk Analysis 1 - Overview	Grading policy, attendance, participation, projects   About risk Acceptable risk Motivation for doing Risk Analysis Intuitive definitions Risk Analysis models
2	Sept. 5	Historical Perspective   Risk Analysis 2	From toxins to agreements   Role of APHIS-PPQ & National Plant Protection Organizations in promoting trade while safeguarding natural resources
3	Sept. 12	Risk Analysis 3         Risk Analysis 4	Risk Assessment defined Risk Management & Risk Communication for Assessors What makes a good Risk Assessment Who else conducts Risk Analysis? Ecological Risk Assessment Chemical RA Food Safety Model MRA Bioterrorism
4	Sept. 19	The Risk Assessment Toolbox Risk Assessment 1	Screening & Ranking Tools Enhanced criteria hazard ranking - Exercise
5	Sept. 26	Risk Assessment 2 - Qualitative	Probabilistic scenario analysis - Exercise
6	Oct. 3	Risk Assessment 3 – Quantitative   Uncertainty & Variability	Monte Carlo process; example   What they are; how to deal with them
7	Oct. 10	Risk Analysis in the context of Plant Protection - The global village	Trade statistics, invasive pests, port interception data
8	Oct.17	Who guides the global village?	Guest lecturer – Dr. Christina Devorshak Review legal & regulatory framework - international - FAO, WTO, IPPC, SPS Agreement, OIE, Codex, International Standards
9	Oct. 24	Who guides the global village?	Guest lecturer – Dr. Christina Devorshak Review legal and regulatory framework - national - Plant Protection Act, Q-37, Q-56, CFR
10	Oct. 31	Risk Assessment 5 - Qualitative	USDA/APHIS Guidelines – elements & process overview Available resources to conduct PRA’s
11	Nov. 7	Risk Assessment 6 - Qualitative	Types of PRA’s Plant Pest Risk Assessment exercise and examples
12	Nov. 14	Spatial Analysis in support of plant resource protection   Modeling in risk assessment	Guest Lecturer – Dr. Dan Borchert   Guest Lecturer – Dr. Barney Caton
13	Nov. 21	Risk Management	Evaluation, comparison & selection of options to deal with pest risk Regulatory actions, systems approaches, new technologies Risk Management Documents
14	Nov. 28	Risk Communication	Communication with stakeholders & the public, within agencies, between agencies
15	Dec. 5	Project Presentations, Review Course evaluation and wrap-up
16	Dec. 12	Final exam