Develop and maintain the digital infrastructure for plant pest identification resources created by plant protection and quarantine - science and technology's identification technology program

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement of $412,177 to North Carolina State University on August 1, 2026, to develop and maintain digital infrastructure for plant pest identification resources created by Plant Protection and Quarantine - Science and Technology's Identification Technology Program.

The recipient will upgrade and modernize servers hosting identification resources to support computer-vision pest identification tools and ensure compliance with federal information system security and accessibility requirements. Work includes improving the underlying codebase for digital identification resources and data management platforms to meet stakeholder needs and increase the efficiency and speed with which identification resources are created and updated. Deliverables encompass server hardware upgrades and upkeep, maintenance of federal digital security and accessibility compliance, and codebase improvements enabling identification resources to support rapid and accurate identification of invasive plant pests.

Performance occurs in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a period of performance from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. The award supports the Identification Technology Program's mission to provide scientifically accurate, comprehensive tools for plant pest identification to benefit farmers and others involved in agricultural production and trade.

These resources are crucial for the rapid and accurate identification of plant pests and include detailed fact sheets, identification keys, image galleries, computer-vision identification tools, and databases of vetted pest identification resources. Activities to be performed: the recipients will use the funds to upgrade and modernize the servers that host identification technology program resources to accommodate computer-vision pest identification tools and ensure compliance with federal information system security and accessibility requirements. The underlying codebase for digital identification resources and data management platforms will be improved to meet the needs of stakeholders involved in plant pest identification and screening and to improve the efficiency and speed with which identification technology program resources are created and updated. Deliverables and expected outcomes: deliverables will include upgrade and upkeep of server hardware for the identification technology program to allow for continued development of pest identification resources and incorporation of computer-vision identification tools. Compliance with federal digital security and accessibility guidelines will be maintained by cooperators funded by this agreement. Improvements to the codebase will be implemented to ensure that identification resources are meeting the needs of stakeholders who need to make rapid and accurate identifications of potential plant pests. Intended beneficiary(IES): this award will ultimately benefit american farmers and others involved in agricultural production and trade by delivering scientifically accurate, comprehensive tools for the identification of invasive plant pests. Globally, damage and control efforts to mitigate the effect of invasive species costs over $20 billion annually. The work conducted under this agreement produces and supports critical tools and resources for the many individuals who are responsible for identifying and surveying invasive plant pests.