MRP-APHIS-Offshore Pest Information Program (OPIP)
Investment ID: 005-000002193
Overview
Program Title
MRP-APHIS-Offshore Pest Information Program (OPIP)
Description
PestLens is a Web-based information-sharing tool that allows users to communicate in an organized manner about offshore plant health events and issues. This program is risk-focused and designed to collect, synthesize, and utilize relevant information.
Type of Program
Non-major IT Investments
Multi-Agency Category
Not Applicable
Associated Websites
https://pestlens.info/
Investment Detail
This investment provides APHIS with one system to collect offshore pest threats which in turn allows USDA to have an early warning system in place for foreign pests and diseases that may negatively impact the United States agricultural industry. Pestlens' early warning system monitored the most dangerous foreign plant pests and diseases, none of which became established in the US in 2019, thereby protecting the $90M US agricultural export market. PestLens data contributed to the completion of 305 risk analyses associated with imports, exports, invasive pest threats, and program requirements to support safe trade and protect American agriculture. PestLens data was used by PPQ and CBP in the clearance process for 20,917 imported shipments containing nearly 1.7 billion plant units (cuttings, rooted plants, tissue culture, etc.) and nearly 422 tons of seeds and helped to prevent the entry of 1,119 quarantine-significant pests at U.S. plant inspection stations.