Developing A National Virtual Biosecurity for Bioenergy Corps Center
Authors:
Martin Schoonen* ([email protected], PI), Kerstin Kleese van Dam, John Shanklin, Alistair Rogers, Robert McGraw, Qun Liu, Shantenu Jha, Paul Freimuth
Institutions:
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Goals
Background. The development of resilient and sustainable bioenergy crops is an important part of the U.S. strategy to transition to a net-zero economy. An important consideration in developing the U.S. bioeconomy is the biosecurity of crops grown for bioenergy production. The most likely biosecurity threats to bioenergy crops are either known pests or pathogens that emerge in new areas, possibly driven by climate change; or new pests or pathogens that are genetically related to known ones. Here, researchers report on an effort to develop a roadmap for a National Virtual Biosecurity for Bioenergy Crops Center (NVBBCC). In FY23, community input was gathered through workshops. This talk summarizes the results from these workshops.
Abstract
Approach and Activities. Six community workshops with participants drawn from the DOE laboratory complex, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Human Services, academia, and the private sector were held. Four workshops focused on the following science topics: (1) detection of diseases using remote sensing based on unmanned aerial vehicles; (2) aerial dispersal of disease vectors; (3) biomolecular characterization of plant-pathogen-vector interactions; and (4) disease mitigation strategies. In each of these four workshops, researchers asked: (1) what are the key knowledge gaps; (2) which of these gaps is DOE uniquely positioned to address; and (3) what investments in research infrastructure are needed. A fifth crosscutting workshop focused on computing needs for analytics, modeling, and data distribution as well as workforce development. A sixth focused on a framework for preparedness to respond to the emergence of biothreats in bioenergy crops.
In parallel to the workshops, the team engaged in an experimental study on a known disease in sorghum. Furthermore, a focused ion beam for cryo-tomography, a computer platform to support data-intensive collaborative research, and drone-based sensors were acquired and commissioned.
The input from these workshops as well as insights stemming from research activities conducted during this pilot study are now being summarized in an NVBBCC roadmap document to be delivered to BER.
Recommendations. The overarching recommendation is for BER to stand up a long-term research program that aims to safeguard bioenergy crops and establish a response capability to detect and identify emerging diseases in bioenergy crops. Specific recommendations are:
- Apply a systems-level approach to bioenergy crop health that would augment and extend the smart farming approaches that the USDA has adopted to safeguard the nation’s agricultural crops. In particular, DOE and BER resources could be applied to advance basic understanding of pathogen-host plant interactions at the molecular level and then apply this knowledge to guide genetic engineering of bioenergy crop plants for increased resilience against disease.
- Develop a capability to predict the impact of climate change on bioenergy (and agricultural) crop security. Building on DOE’s long expertise in Earth system modeling, a capability to predict climate- induced changes in host-pathogen ecosystems could guide efforts to avoid or limit the spreading of crop diseases.
- DOE’s expertise in stand-off detection and biosensing also could be harnessed to augment the USDA’s efforts in crop surveillance.
Finally, the envisioned center (NVBBCC) would allow scientists from DOE, USDA, and academia to collaborate and share dedicated research and computing facilities.
Image
Schematic Diagram of Stressors on Bioenergy Crops, Disease Detection, and Possible Actions. [Courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory]