Develop the capacity to support PPQ S & T in the monitoring for central american locust in the lower RIO grande valley through the recruitment and training of a team of undergraduate students who will…

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley received a $148,342 Cooperative Agreement from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. The agreement aims to develop monitoring capacity for Central American locust surveillance in the Lower Rio Grande Valley by recruiting and training six undergraduate students in ecological niche modeling and entomological diagnostics. The primary deliverables include validated ecological niche modeling tools and web-based applications for APHIS use, predictive maps identifying high-risk areas for locust invasion, survey data from at-risk regions, and a final report documenting learning outcomes and pest monitoring information to enhance future agency field operations.

This initiative directly supports agricultural protection in the region, as locust infestations threaten nearly all crop species grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. By combining student workforce development with scientific research capabilities, the award strengthens APHIS's surveillance infrastructure while providing hands-on training to students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. No subawards are included under this cooperative agreement.

Develop the capacity to support PPQ S & T in the monitoring for central american locust in the lower RIO grande valley through the recruitment and training of a team of undergraduate students who will identify high-risk areas using modeling and survey those sites using standard entomological and molecular diagnostics methods. The award recipient will recruit and train the students as well as oversee their progress. Deliverables: (1) six students will be hired and trained in ecological niche modeling, enabling production of maps and identification of at-risk areas; (2) modeling and web-based tools will be validated and provided to the agency for subsequent use; (3) maps of potential distribution of target species will be created and provided to the agency; (4) potential areas (those most at-risk to invasion) will be surveyed and communicated to the agency, enabling improved monitoring in future field work by experts; (5) final report containing learning outcomes and pest monitoring information relevant to the agency's operations will be produced and delivered to the adodr. Beneficiaries include the agency (through an expanded monitoring capacity) and growers in the lrgv (almost every crop species is susceptible to locust damage). There will be no subawards.