Invasive mollusks are a potential threat to a wide variety of crops; including fruit, vegetable, field, oil, and ORN amental

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Florida a $1.56 million Cooperative Agreement on June 1, 2026, under an invasive mollusk surveillance and detection program to protect U.S. agricultural commodities and public health.

The recipient will conduct surveys throughout Florida to detect mollusk species of regulatory concern, determine the range of any new pest species, and execute trace-back and trace-forward investigations on new detections. Upon identification of a new regulatory mollusk species, the recipient will initiate control and regulatory mitigation activities to prevent spread and protect both agricultural production and human health. The program addresses the dual threat of invasive mollusks as generalist herbivores affecting fruit, vegetable, field, oil, and ornamental crops and as carriers of rat lungworm, which causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. The recipient will also design, produce, and disseminate outreach materials to stakeholders to raise awareness of invasive mollusk threats. Early detection is expected to enable mitigation before infestations become widespread, protecting state and national agricultural industries and food supply security.

The cooperative agreement runs from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, with performance in Florida. The $1.56 million obligation funds the full scope of survey, detection, investigative, control, regulatory, and outreach activities under this award.

Activities

The cooperator will conduct surveys for the presence of mollusk species of concern throughout florida, determine the range of any new pest mollusk species of regulatory concern and conduct trace back/forward investigations on any new detections. If a new species of regulatory mollusk species is identified, control and regulatory activities will be initiated immediately to mitigate spread of the pest and IT's impact to humans and agriculture. In addition, the design, production and dissemination of outreach materials to all stakeholders will be done to raise awareness of the threat of invasive mollusks.deliverables and expected outcomes: early detection of new populations of invasive mollusks will ensure that mitigation activities can commence before infestations become too large or widespread. Preventing the establishment of invasive mollusk species will protect agricultural industries and the food supply at the state and national levels. Outreach initiatives are viewed as an essential element to maintain public interest, as well as gain support of the goals and objectives of containment, control, and eradication of these unwanted pests. Periodic assessments of the goals and objectives will be scheduled, and adjustments will be made using new and scientific-based information. Intended beneficiary(IES): the primary mission is to protect the health and value of U.S. Agricultural resources threatened by the establishment of exotic pests. Therefore, the first priority is to detect and mitigate economically important pest introductions in order to prevent production losses and trade disruptions that would directly impact U.S. Growers and the agricultural industry. In addition, these agricultural pests pose a human health risk as carriers of the RAT lungworm (angiostrongylus cantonensis), which can cause eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a. Cost categories: personnel: 27 staff at various hours and rates = $822,534; fringe benefits: various rates= $389,271; travel (160 days and rental car) $98,440; supplies: (agricultural, field, office) $95,423.79; contractual: (office space, waste disposal, background checks): $48 ,887.90; other: (maintenance, utilities, uniforms): $105,443.31