Name: Innovative Tools to Combat Emerging Diseases and Boost Pollination
Start: 2026-02-18T08:30:00-08:00
End: 2026-02-18T15:00:00-08:00
Location: Confluence Technology Center

Innovative Tools to Combat Emerging Diseases and Boost Pollination

Join us for a deep dive into cutting-edge disease-fighting tools and strategies to supercharge pollination efforts!
About this Event

Join us for a full-day workshop dedicated to advancing strategies for managing emerging postharvest diseases that may create trade barriers, understanding the role of Manchurian crab apple pollinizers in their spread, and exploring potential replacements. The program will also highlight best practices to enhance pollination, optimize crop load management, and support bee health.

This workshop is made possible through the support of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program.

Workshop Topics:

Emerging pathogens: sources and management
On-site detection of emerging pathogens to enhance management and shipping
Identifying new pollinizers to replace Manchurian crabapples
Enhancing pollination efficiency
Precision crop-load management
Bee foraging and health

Format

Expert presentations
Discussion
In-person

Speakers

Achour Amiri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University and the Tree Fruit Research Extension Center in Wenatchee. He focuses on tree fruit diseases in Washington State and Pacific Northwest with a focus on applied epidemiology of major pathogens in orchards and its linkage to postharvest disease problems.

Arild Arifin is Postdoctoral Scientist at Washington State University’ Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee. He conducts research on early on-site detection of emerging pathogens to enhance management and minimize trade limits.

Stefano Musacchi is a Professor and Endowed Chair of Tree Fruit Physiology and Management at Washington State University. His research focuses on advanced orchard management practices to improve yield, fruit quality, and profitability in apple, pear, and cherry, with expertise in pollination, rootstocks, planting systems, pruning, and precision crop load management.

Sara Serra is an Assistant Professor of Tree Fruit Production and Physiology at Penn State University in Biglerville, PA. Previously, she spent 12 years at WSU in Wenatchee conducting research on tree fruit physiology and management. Her research integrates field-based orchard management with laboratory analyses, focusing on tree physiology, fruit quality, and production systems in apple, pear, and peach.

Tory Schmidt is a Project Manager at the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC). He heads up the Commission’s research programs in crop load and canopy management, as well as managing ongoing studies of pesticide residues on apples and cherries and is a member of the Washington Tree Fruit Extension Team.

Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman is a Retired Research Leader at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS and at University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ . Her research areas include mathematical modelling, honeybee nutrition, varroa population dynamics and control effects of fungicides on queen development, worker physiology, and colony survival, and overwintering colonies in cold storage.

Agenda

08:15 am Arrival and Registration open

08:30 am Welcome: Objectives and overview of the program-

MODULE I: Emerging & Quarantine pathogens: Management & Detection

8:40 am Occurrence & Management of emerging pathogens

Achour Amiri, Associate Professor, Washington State University

9:10 am Emerging & Quarantine pathogens: Rapid Onsite & Early Detection

Arild Arifin, Research Associate, Washington State University

09:45 am Hands on Activity: Demonstration of LAMP Portable Detection

Arifin & Amiri

10:30 am Panel Discussion: Experiences with fruit exports

Facilitated by Achour Amiri