Improve training resources available to caps technicians and seasonal workers and to consolidate available training material and taxonomic screening aids on a single online hub

Award Details: Purdue University received a $103,773 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 August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.

Products and Services: In collaboration with APHIS-PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine) Science and Technology staff, Purdue University will develop comprehensive training resources for Cooperative Agricultural Pest Surveys (CAPS) technicians and seasonal workers. The cooperator will create multimedia training modules in video and text formats covering critical CAPS activities including bulk sample sorting, material packaging for expert shipment, and basic microscopy techniques. Additionally, Purdue will migrate and modernize existing PDF-based CAPS screening aids into updatable web-based forms. These deliverables will be consolidated into a centralized online hub hosted by the APHIS-PPQ Science and Technology Pest Identification Technology Lab, providing state and federal personnel involved in CAPS surveys with unified access to current training materials and taxonomic screening resources.

In cooperation with aphis-PPQ-S & T staff, cooperators will conduct the following activities: (1) create video and text-based multimedia training modules for caps technicians and seasonal workers; (2) migrate and update data in PDF-formatted caps screening aids to more readily updatable web-based forms. These activities will result in the following deliverables: (1) training modules covering crucial activities conducted by caps technician and seasonal workers such as how to effectively sort bulk samples, how to package material for shipment to experts, basic microscopy, etc.; (2) a centralized online hub containing training modules and updated screening aids hosted by the aphis-PPQ-S & T pest identification technology lab identification technology program. These resources will benefit those involved in caps surveys, both at state and federal levels.