ARSX
A challenge through USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to develop innovations tackling disruptive agricultural pests and pathogens.
ARSX 2020 Winners
Handheld Device for Assessing Plant Health
This innovation is a handheld device to be used in the field for early detection of Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, which is spread by an insect present in most citrus-producing areas of the US.
Novel Feed-Based Therapeutics for Honey Bees
The goal of this innovation is to develop novel Single Cell Protein (SCP) for commercial bee keepers to incorporate into bee feeds for the distribution of feed-based therapeutics to large numbers of bee colonies.
Delivering Real-Time Crop Pest/Pathogen Immunity
This innovation is a real-time immunization method to modify plant traits including, but not limited to, those to fight pest or pathogen attacks.
the Challenge
Play the ARSX2020 game!
Disruptive pests and pathogens are a major threat to biosecurity, adversely impacting agricultural yields, the economic stability of both producers and consumers, natural resources, and human health. In the United States alone, invasive species cause damages and losses to agricultural and native ecosystems valued at over $120 billion per year. Crop and forest production losses account for a third of that cost. In many cases, a changing climate exacerbates the problem, creating new conditions in which invasive species may thrive and spread.
In the inaugural year of ARSX, innovators at ARS tackled disruptive agricultural pests and pathogens and 3 teams won $100,000 each in funding!
Learn more about the ARSX innovation competition, the finalists’ innovations, and watch the final event below.
The Finalists
Access a PDF with project descriptions.
Accelerating Production of New Biological Control Agents of Weeds
Lincoln Smith, Ikju Park, Thomas Coudron, Franklin Arthur, William Morrison, George Yocum
Delivering Real-Time Crop Pest/Pathogen Immunity
Robert Shatters, Rodney Cooper, Michelle Heck, Jim Thomson, Cindy McKenzie, Randy Niedz, Cristina Pisani, Marco Pitino, Ed Stover
Emerging Pathogen and Pest Toolbox
Niklaus Grunwald, Rex Nelson, Minica Poelchau, Gerard Lazo, Frank Martin, Matt Rouse, Surya Saha, Jeff Chang, Melodie Putnam
Enhancing Plant Immunity to Necrotrophic Pathogens
Weidong Chen, William Underwood
Eradication of the Cattle Fever Pathogen, Babesia bovis
Brian Rector, Glen Scoles, Susan Noh, Carlos Suarez, Massari Ueti
Handheld Device for Assessing Plant Health
Cheryl Armstrong, Joseph Capabianco, Yongping Duan, Wan Shih, Wei-Heng Shih
Novel Feed-Based Therapeutics for Honey Bees
Vincent Ricigliano, Michael Simone-Finstrom, Kate Ihle, James Thomson, Tyler Williams
Receptor Interference Technology for Novel Insecticide Discovery
Man-yeon Choi, Jana Lee, Bobt Vander Meer
Reversible Biocides
William Hart-Cooper, Paul Pratt, Jennifer Wilson-Welder, Jong Kim, Xiaohua He, Kaj Johnson, Erica Schapiro, James McManus, Luisa Cheng
Topical Application of Double-Stranded RNA for Weed Suppression
Matthew Tancos, Michelle Heck
The Final Event
We welcomed USDA Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins and the XPRIZE Foundation CEO Anousheh Ansari as keynote speakers.
Agenda
0:00:00-0:10:30 Welcome Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young
0:10:30-0:28:30 Keynote Dr. Scott Hutchins
0:28:30-0:39:30 ARSX background & judge introductions Dr. Jeff Silverstein and Dr. Soroush Parsa
0:40:00-3:35:00 Final pitches & networking with ARSX finalist teams
3:35:00-3:55:00 Keynote Anousheh Ansari
3:55:00-4:00:00 Winners Announcement
4:00:00-4:13:00 Closing Remarks Dr. Alex Dehgan
The FInal Event
Our final judges were ARS Administrator Chavonda Jacobs-Young, ARS Deputy Assistant Administrator Rob Griesbach, USAID Bureau of Resilience and Food Security Chief Scientist Rob Bertram, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Executive Director Sally Rockey, and Dept. of Energy ARPA-E Program Director David Babson.
