New technology to detect and identify plant diseases

By Dr. Sean Li, Khanh Duong and Nathan Buchanan

This blog post was originally published to Cultivating Science on science.gc.ca.

As international trade increases, a growing number of plant diseases are threatening global agriculture and food security. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is constantly seeking ways to improve plant health while supporting Canada's economy.

Early detection and identification of these diseases help the CFIA protect Canada's crops and the environment while facilitating trade. At the CFIA's Charlottetown Laboratory, a new online tool called Clasnip combines genetic data and computer science to quickly and accurately identify diseases.

Continue reading to learn more.