The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health

Webinar

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Report Release

January 8, 2019

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST)

Past

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a public release webinar for the new consensus report Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations on Tuesday, January 8 at 2:00 pm ET. The recording will be posted soon.

Biotechnology has the potential to help mitigate threats to North American forests from insects and pathogens through the introduction of pest-resistant traits to forest trees. However, many gaps in knowledge remain, particularly related to tree genetics, effects on the environment, and the public’s understanding of the technology. The report examines the potential of biotechnology to mitigate threats to forest tree health; identifies the ecological, ethical, and social implications of deploying biotechnology in forests, and develops a research agenda to address the knowledge gaps.

Download the Report

View Report Highlights

View Press Release

View Presentation Slides

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/311324914

The report release webinar featured a presentation and Q&A session by the report’s authoring committee:

Dr. Susan E. Offutt, Chief Economist (retired), U.S. Government Accountability Office
Dr. Jason A. Delborne, Associate Professor of Science, Policy, & Society, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University
Dr. Stephen DiFazio, Professor, Department of Biology, West Virginia University
Dr. Inés Ibáñez, Associate Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Partially Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan E. Offutt
Jason A. Delborne
Stephen DiFazio
Inés Ibáñez

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Report release

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Whitebark Pine

April 2, 2018

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)

Past

About

Webinar on Whitebark Pine
Monday, April 2 at 3:30 pm ET

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/263212894

Speaker:

– Diana F. Tomback, University of Colorado, Denver – View Slides

Diana F. Tomback is Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of Colorado Denver. Her expertise includes evolutionary ecology, with application to forest ecology and conservation biology. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees at UCLA in Zoology, and her Ph.D. at the University of California Santa Barbara in Biological Sciences. She is known for her pioneering studies of the coevolved, mutualistic interaction between Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), a bird of high mountain forests, and five-needle white pine species, particularly whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). Her research, spanning more than four decades, has revealed major ecological and evolutionary consequences to pines from avian seed dispersal, including growth form, population structure, regeneration biology, the effects of exotic disease and mountain pine beetles on the bird-pine mutualism. Tomback was lead organizer and editor of the book, Whitebark Pine Communities: Ecology and Restoration, published by Island Press in 2001, which provided important information for the status review of whitebark pine under the Endangered Species Act in by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her recent research has included collaborative studies of the abundance and functional role of whitebark pine at treeline, and the threat posed by the exotic pathogen that causes white pine blister rust; the relationship between whitebark pine health, cone production, and stand visitation by Clark’s nutcracker; and, syntheses and modelling of the ecology, decline, and conservation biology of western five-needle white pines and the impact on Clark’s nutcrackers. In 2001, Tomback and several colleagues started the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation (WPEF) http://www.whitebarkfound.org, a non-profit based in Missoula, Montana.dedicated to the restoration of whitebark pine ecosystems and educating the public and resource management agencies about the importance of this pine and the extent of its decline. Tomback served as volunteer Director of this organization for 16 years, and then recently stepped into role of Policy and Outreach Coordinator. During her tenure, the WPEF has partnered with federal agencies and non-profit organizations, organized workshops and symposia, developed monitoring protocols, and raised funding for restoration projects.

Additional Information

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Risks, Concerns, and Potential Problems Regarding the Use of Biotechnology to Address Forest Health

March 27, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

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About

Webinar on Risks, Concerns, and Potential Problems Regarding the Use of Biotechnology to Address Forest Health
Tuesday, March 27 at 2:00 pm ET

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/262822419

Speakers:

– Rachel Smolker, BiofuelWatch – View Slides

Rachel Smolker is codirector of Biofuelwatch. She has researched, written about and campaigned to raise awareness of the impacts of large scale bioenergy since 2007. Her work has spanned from local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology and ecology from the University of Michigan, and worked previously as a field biologist. Most recently her research and writing has focussed on biotechnology for biofuels and the “bioeconomy”, including GE trees and synthetic biology applications to microbes and microalgae. She is on the steering committee of the Campaign to Stop GE Trees, a board member of the Global Forest Coalition and lives in Vermont.

– Anne Petermann, Global Justice Ecology Project – View Slides

Anne Petermann is the co-Founder and Executive Director of Global Justice Ecology Project. She is also the North American Focal Point for the Global Forest Coalition. She has been working for the protection of forests since 1989. She began looking into the social and ecological impacts of genetically engineered trees in 2000 and has presented these concerns to Parties and delegates at UN Climate Summits, Biodiversity Conventions and Forest Forums on five continents. She has also investigated and documented the social, ecological and economic impacts of industrial tree plantations in Africa, South America and the US., especially with regard to impacts on Indigenous and forest dependent communities.

– Ruddy Turnstone, Global Justice Ecology Project – View Slides

Ruddy is the GE Trees Campaigner for Global Justice Ecology Project. She is also on the international Steering Committee for the Campaign to STOP GE Trees. Ruddy lives in the US Southeast and has a history of working to defend forests from development and logging through community science, public outreach, protest and litigation. In addition to forest protection work in the Southeast, she has assisted in canopy research in the Sequoias, conducted indicator species surveys in Oregon, performed forest restoration in Utah, and has assisted in campaigns to protect other ecosystems and communities dependent on them. Her international work has reinforced her understanding of the devastation tree plantations have on communities and ecosystems.

Additional Information

Contact

Contact us

forestbiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Ethics of Using Biotechnology in Conservation

March 12, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EDT)

Past

About

Webinar on Ethics of Using Biotechnology in Conservation
Monday, March 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm ET

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/259759290

Speakers:

– Ron Sandler, Northeastern University – View Slides

Ronald Sandler is chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion and Director of the Ethics Institute at Northeastern University. His areas of research are environmental ethics, ethics and technology, and ethical theory. His is the author of Environmental Ethics: Theory in Practice (Oxford University Press), Food Ethics: The Basics (Routledge), and The Ethics of Species (Cambridge University Press). His is also the editor of Ethics and Emerging Technologies (Palgrave-Macmillan), and co-editor of Environmental Justice and Environmentalism (MIT Press) and Environmental Virtue Ethics (Rowman and Littlefield). Sandler’s recent work includes ethical analysis and evaluation of the development and use of novel conservation technologies and strategies.

– Faith T. Campbell, Center for Invasive Species Prevention – View Slides

Faith Campbell earned a B.A. in political science at Dickinson College and a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University. Since 1976, she has worked as a lobbyist for a series of environmental advocacy organizations, including Natural Resources Defense Council, National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils, American Lands Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and (currently) the Center for Invasive Species Prevention. She presented an environmentalists’ review of transgenic trees on behalf of American Lands Alliance at conference hosted by Steve Strauss in 2001. Faith represented The Conservancy on the advisory committee of the Healthy Forest Initiative. Faith has focused on non-native insects and diseases that attack North American tree taxa since 1990. Faith has published on policy issues related to non-native pests in Bioscience and Wild Earth; has testified before Congress; and co-authored a series of in-house reports, Fading Forests I (1994), Fading Forests II (2002), and Fading Forests III (2014) – available at http://treeimprovement.utk.edu/FadingForests.htm

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Contact us

forestbiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on GE Trees and the U.S. Regulatory System

March 8, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar on GE Trees and the U.S. Regulatory System
Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/259759497

Speakers:

– Adam Costanza, Institute of Forest Biosciences – View Slides

Adam Costanza is the president of the Institute of Forest Biosciences (IFB), a non-profit that fosters the use of science and technologies to create healthier and more productive forests now and for the future. The IFB supports responsible uses of advanced forest technologies that benefit society and the environment. Adam works with stakeholders to achieve these goals through policy development, technology creation, outreach, and education. Adam received his undergraduate degree through Chemical Engineering: Energy and the Environment from the University of Rochester. He went on to earn his Masters of Environmental Management degree from Duke University. During his 11-year tenure at IFB, he has helped develop international governance frameworks including the Greenhouse Gas Corporate Accounting Protocol and the Responsible Use: Biotech Tree Principles, is Co-Chair of the Tree Genes Initiative, manages biotechnology regulations for the Forest Health Initiative, and is a lead developer for open science systems that share information that improves the health and productivity of native and planted forests through the Forest.Health, TreeTaggr, Open Forestry, Pests by Zipcode, and Internet of Trees efforts. He has given numerous talks on the implications of using genetic modification on forest trees within national regulatory and global forest certification frameworks. His policy work includes regulatory framework whitepapers, lectures on public perception of the forest products industry at North Carolina State University, and an August 2015 article in the journal Science on regulation and certification of genetically engineered trees for forest health.

– Lori Knowles, University of Alberta and Institute of Forest Biosciences – View Slides

Lori P. Knowles is an expert in international comparative law working as a consultant in Boston, USA, and as faculty at the University of Alberta, Canada, School of Public Health. She specializes in law, policy and ethics, particularly as it relates to emerging biotechnologies. Professor Knowles holds law degrees from Canada, the UK and the US, and has practiced and taught law in Canada and the US. She sits on the Government of Alberta’s Innovation and Research Council; is Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Forest Biosciences; and is a special governmental employee for the US Food and Drug Administration. Professor Knowles has been a consultant to President Bush’s Council on Bioethics; President Clinton’s National Bioethics Advisory Commission; Genome Canada; the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee; the Stem Cell Network of Canada; and the National Academy of Sciences, among others. She is the author of numerous publications, and lectures internationally on a wide range of law and medical-related topics, ranging from GMOs and synthetic biology, to stem cells and reproductive technology.

– William (Bill) Doley, USDA-APHIS-Biotechnology Regulatory Services – View Slides

Dr. Bill Doley is a Government Relations Specialist in the Intergovernmental Operations Group of Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) within the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Bill started with BRS in 2010 as a Biotechnologist, and moved into his current role in 2013. Among other duties, he coordinates the Am I Regulated (AIR) process through which developers of genetically engineered (GE) organisms can inquire about the regulatory status of a described GE organism. Bill received a B.S. in plant science from Penn State, an M.S. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD in plant breeding from Michigan State University. Prior to joining USDA, Bill held positions with the American Crystal Sugar Company, American Cyanamid, BASF and the Danforth Center. Bill’s expertise includes plant breeding, herbicide tolerance, strategic relationships, project management and biotechnology product development.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Forest Ecology at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

March 5, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar on Forest Ecology at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Monday, March 5, 2018 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/258686679

Speakers:

– William C. (Chuck) Hunter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – View Slides

Mr. Hunter grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he learned about nature and enjoyed the outdoors from an early age. After many years of exploring southern environments, he moved westward where he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in 1980 and his Master of Science degree from Arizona State University in 1988. During the intervening years, he worked on a number of wildlife inventory projects along southwestern river systems. In 1988, Mr. Hunter joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Phoenix, Arizona, and later moved to the Service’s Atlanta, Georgia, Regional Office in the spring of 1989. Mr. Hunter’s duties in Atlanta have involved endangered and nongame species conservation throughout the Southeast Region. Specifically with respect to migratory bird management, Mr. Hunter has been instrumental in developing conservation planning efforts for landbirds, shorebirds, and waterbirds. From 2003 to the present day Mr. Hunter serves as the chief of Division of Strategic Resource Management and oversees biological and other resource planning support for National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeast Region.

– Marit Alanen, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – View Slides

Marit grew up in the wilds of Madison, Wisconsin, and spent her formative summers at a cabin in northern Minnesota playing with chipmunks, frogs, and fireflies. She decided to change things up for college and went east to get a B.A. in Environmental Science from Wesleyan University in 1992, and then west for a M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Arizona in 1998. Since then, Marit has spent most of her time in southern Arizona, first working on the Mt. Graham red squirrel for the University of Arizona, then moving to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (where the squirrel followed her), and then beginning her career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2005, where the squirrel found her once again and made her lead biologist more than 10 years ago. Marit works primarily with other federal agencies and partners on projects to benefit, and hopefully recover, the diversity of unique species found in the “Sky Island” region of southern Arizona.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Indigenous Perspectives on the Use of Biotechnology in Forests

March 2, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar on Indigenous Perspectives on the Use of Biotechnology in Forests
Friday, March 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

Watch webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/258673703

Speakers:

– Neil Patterson, Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, SUNY-ESF

Neil Patterson Jr. is a citizen of the Tuscarora Nation and the Assistant Director of the Center for Native Peoples & the Environment at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse NY. Neil has been a delegate to the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force since 1992 and is founder and former Director of the Tuscarora Environmental Program. He teaches courses in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and contemporary Indigenous issues at SUNY ESF, and helps lead community and youth environmental and outdoor education programs in Haudenosaunee communities.

– BJ McManama, Indigenous Environmental Network – View Slides

BJ McManama is an organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network’s Save Our Roots campaign and has worked for IEN in different capacities for the past 13 years. She has been involved with Indigenous and environmental issues for over 20 years networking with Indigenous Peoples and communities globally on issues related to Indigenous land rights and autonomy. Most recently IEN has focused on the impacts of energy corporations on Indigenous communities in North and South America; and on the impacts of land grabbing and forest carbon offsets schemes on Indigenous and front line communities globally.

– Michael J. Dockry, U.S. Forest Service and University of Minnesota – View Slides

Mike Dockry is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a Research Forester and Social Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service’s Northern Research Station. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resources and American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He is an associate editor for the Journal of Forestry, received the 2016 American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s Most Promising Scientist Award and received the 2017 Northern Research Station’s Early Career Scientist Award. Mike is part of a team of ecological and social scientists working on interdisciplinary research to support foresighted natural resource management decisions. His research interests include understanding social aspects of forest and natural resource management, sustainability, indigenous community forestry, strategic foresight research, and environmental history. He is a leader on tribal issues for the U.S. Forest Service, and he has helped write national and regional tribal strategic plans and research agendas.

Additional Information

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Pesticide Use in Forests

February 23, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar on Pesticide Use in Forests
Friday, February 23, 2018 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/257926290

Speakers:

– John L. Kough, Office of Pesticide Programs, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Environmental Protection Agency – View Slides

Dr. John L. Kough is a senior scientist in the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Dr. Kough has been at EPA since 1990 and has worked in the biotechnology programs of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. In his work with the Office of Pesticide Programs, he has reviewed the scientific data submitted for plant-incorporated protectants (genetically engineered plants) and many of the microbial and biochemical pesticides currently registered. Dr. Kough has presented EPA’s position at numerous Scientific Advisory Panels on topics like product characterization, protein toxicity assessment, RNA interference and food allergenicity. He attended Reed College and received a B.A. in biology in 1975. He has a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Oregon State University, had a post-doctoral fellowship with the French Agricultural Research Institute (INRA) in Dijon, and worked for IGEN, a biotechnology company designing immunoassays for plant pathogens, before joining EPA.

– Robyn Rose, USDA-APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine – View Slides

Dr. Robyn Rose is the National Policy Manager at the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) at USDA-APHIS. Dr. Rose is responsible for the overall planning and direction of policies for the emerald ash borer, biological control and honey bee plant pest and disease programs with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. She is also responsible for the program’s budgets, regulations, and environmental compliances. Prior to her current position, she served as the National Policy Manager for the Asian longhorned beetle eradication program, managed programs for Sirex woodwasp and cactus moth. Dr. Rose’s federal career spans over 20 years, starting first with the Environmental Protection Agency before joining the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. She led ecological and National Environmental Policy Act risk assessments for biological pesticides and genetically engineered crops. Dr. Rose received her Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the University of Florida, and her Masters and Doctorate in entomology from Iowa State University and University of Maryland. A Maryland native, Dr. Rose now resides in Virginia.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Contact us

forestbiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on Poplar and Ash

February 22, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar on Poplar and Ash
Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 2:00 pm ET

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/257925891

Speakers:

– Jennifer Koch, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station – View Bio

Jennifer Koch is a Research Biologist with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station in Delaware, OH. She has both a M.S. and Ph.D in Molecular Genetics from the Ohio State University. Her dissertation research identified signaling pathways in hybrid poplar involved in mounting defense responses to ozone stress that overlap with those triggered by insect herbivory, fungal and bacterial pathogens. This work was the beginning of her long standing interest in the mechanisms that trees use to defend themselves against biotic and abiotic threats and provided the fundamental basis for her career. Since joining the Forest Service, she has focused her research on the genetics of host-resistance to invasive insects and pathogens, developing methods to identify, propagate, and breed resistant trees. Dr. Koch has successfully implemented a participatory, multi-agency breeding program for beech bark disease resistant American beech trees and more recently, her research has focused on identifying and breeding for emerald ash borer resistance in North American ash species. Through collaborations with national and international universities, she is currently working on identifying the genetic determinants responsible for resistance to beech bark disease and emerald ash borer. Dr. Koch is a member of the Society of American Foresters and is currently heading the organizing committee for the upcoming International Union of Forest Research Organization’s 6th International Workshop on the Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions in August of 2018.

– Jared M. LeBoldus, Oregon State University – View Bio

Jared LeBoldus is an assistant professor of forest pathology at Oregon State University (OSU) in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and the Forest Engineering Resources and Management Department since the fall of 2015. Prior to his appointment at OSU he was an assistant professor at North Dakota State University for 4 years. Dr. LeBoldus received his undergraduate degree in forest science at the University of British Columbia in 2003 and received both a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in forest biology and management at the University of Alberta.The forest pathology research program at OSU is focused on dissecting molecular plant-pathogen interactions in forest trees using genomics. These efforts are centered on Populus spp. and the fungal pathogen Sphaerulina musiva, the cause of septoria leaf spot and stem canker. Broadly, he is interested in using the Populus model to understand disease resistance and use that understanding to help mitigate the impacts of forest diseases.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Contact us

forestbiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Webinar #2

February 12, 2018

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar #2

Monday, February 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/255454146

Speaker:

Using Genomic Tools to Understand and Manage Adaptation to Climate

– Sally Aitken, University of British Columbia – View Slides

Sally Aitken is a Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Innovation, in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, and Director of the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics. Sally obtained her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research integrates phenotypic, genomic and climatic data to understand the processes driving local adaptation in trees, and develops tools for managing and conserving tree populations in a changing climate. She has led two multi-institutional large-scale applied research projects funded by Genome Canada, AdapTree and CoAdapTree, focussed on developing genomic approaches and tools to guide reforestation and breeding for new climates. She received the Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award in 2009, the International Union of Forest Research Organization’s Scientific Achievement Award in 2014, was named a Wall Scholar in the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies in 2014, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2017.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Webinar #1

December 12, 2017

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Past

About

Webinar #1
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time

Watch the webinar recording here: https://vimeo.com/247049276

Speakers:

Tree Breeding for Forest Health – Current Successes. How can Biotechnology Help?

– Richard Sniezko, U.S. Forest Service – View Slides

Dr. Richard Sniezko has worked in forest genetics and tree improvement since 1977. Since 1991, he has been Center Geneticist with the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region’s Dorena Genetic Resource Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon. His work focuses on development of genetic resistance to non-native forest tree diseases as well as genetic variation and genetic conservation in forest trees. His Bachelor of Science degree in forest science is from Humboldt State University, and his Ph.D. in forest genetics is from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the Forest Service in 1991, he worked in Zimbabwe (3 years) and at Oregon State University (in conjunction with PNW Research Station). He is coordinator of IUFRO 2.02.15 Working Group (Breeding and genetic resources of five-needle pines) and a member of the IUFRO Task Force on Biological Invasions in Forests. Dr. Sniezko is also initiator and ad hoc coordinator/facilitator for the Genetics of Host-Parasite Interactions in Forestry working group that met in 2011 and 2015 and is scheduled to meet in 2018. He oversees programs that have developed genetic resistance to the non-native pathogens Cronartium ribicola and Phytophthora lateralis and has been technical adviser to the program to develop resistance to koa wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum) in Hawaii. The programs he oversees are world leaders in the applied development of resistance for reforestation and restoration, and the products from these programs are now used widely across the Pacific Northwest. Since 2001, Dr. Sniezko has organized or co-organized eight international conferences and workshops on genetic resistance, genetic conservation, and white pine genetics/breeding. He has been Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, or Cooperator on numerous funded grant proposals and published numerous papers and has been an invited speaker on the development and application of disease resistance in forest trees.

Emerald Ash Borer – The Complexities of a Catastrophic Invader

– Deb McCullough, Michigan State University – View Slides

Deborah G. McCullough holds graduate degrees in Forestry (M.S., Northern Arizona University) and Entomology (Ph.D., University of Minnesota). She is a Professor at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in the Dept. of Entomology and Dept. of Forestry, with research, extension and teaching responsibilities. Much of McCullough’s current research focuses on the ecology, impacts and management of invasive forest insects, including emerald ash borer and beech bark disease. She works with forest management agencies, regulatory officials and private landowners to identify damaging forest insect populations and to develop long-term, sustainable management strategies to protect forest health. McCullough has published more than 90 papers about forest insect ecology and management in scientific journals, along with more than 120 extension bulletins and articles. She teaches Insects and Diseases of Forest and Shade Trees annually, to students majoring in Forestry or Horticulture.

Developing Genetically Diverse, Blight-Resistant American Chestnut Through Conventional Breeding and Genetic Engineering

– Jared Westbrook, The American Chestnut Foundation – View Slides

Dr. Jared Westbrook started working for the American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) in 2015. Dr. Westbrook earned a B.S. in environmental science at the University of Michigan in 2004. At the University of Florida, he earned a M.S. in botany in 2009 and a Ph.D. in plant molecular and cellular biology in 2014. His Ph.D. work focused on gene discovery and genomic selection for enhanced stem terpene synthesis in loblolly pine. His focus at TACF has been on genomic selection for disease resistance in American chestnut backcross populations and on range-wide germplasm conservation of Castanea dentatapopulations.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

December 5, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EST)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Jason Delborne, Doria Gordon, Ines Ibanez, Greg Jaffe, Mark Needham, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Finalizing report.

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

Draft report.

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 25, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

December 3, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EST)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhattre, Jason Delborne, Steve DiFazio, Doria Gordon, Ines Ibanez, Mark Needham, Clare Palmer, Ron Sederoff, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Finalizing revisions to draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

November 14, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EST)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Jason Delborne, Mark Needham, Clare Palmer

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Revising draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

November 7, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EST)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Vikram Chhatre, Steve DiFazio, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Revising draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

November 2, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Doria Gordon, Clare Palmer, Diana Six

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Revising draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

October 31, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Jeanne Romero-Severson, Ron Sederoff, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Revising draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

October 22, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Jason Delborne, Steve DiFazio, Doria Gordon, Greg Jaffe, Ines Ibanez, Mark Needham, Clare Palmer, Ron Sederoff, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Revising draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health-Committee Conference Call

September 13, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Steve DiFazko, Doria Gordon, Ines Ibanez, Clare Palmer, Jeanne, Romero-Severson, Ron Sederoff, Diana Six

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Finalizing draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

September 4, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Steve DiFazio, Doria Gordon, Greg Jaffe, Ines Ibanez, Ron Sederoff, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Finalizing draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

September 4, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Doria Gordon, Diana Six

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Finalizing draft chapter

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

August 29, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Jason Delborne, Steve DiFazio, Doria Gordon, Ines Ibanez, Clare Palmer, Ron Sederoff, Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Finalizing draft report.

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health--Committee Conference Call

August 9, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

About

Finishing draft report.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Jason Delborne, Steve DiFazio, Doria Gordon, Greg Jaffe, Mark Needham, Clare Palmer, Diana Six

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Report draft

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

January 28, 2019

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

ForestBiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Meeting #4 Closed Session

June 28 - 29, 2018

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Vikram E. Chhatre, University of Wyoming
Jason A. Delborne, North Carolina State University
Stephen DiFazio , West Virginia University
Doria Gordon, Environmental Defense Fund
Inés Ibáñez, University of Michigan
Gregory Jaffe, Center for Science in the Public Interest
Mark D. Needham. Oregon State University (Zoom)
Susan E. Offutt, U.S. Government Accountability Office (retired)
Clare Palmer, Texas A&M University
Jeanne Romero-Severson, University of Notre Dame (Zoom)
Ronald R. Sederoff, North Carolina State University
Diana L. Six, The University of Montana (Zoom)
Richard Sniezko, U.S. Forest Service

Contact

Contact us

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Conference Call

May 22, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Jason Delborne, Mark Needham, Steve DiFazio, Ines Ibanez, Doria Gordon, Clare Palmer, Richard Sniezko, Greg Jaffe, Diana Six, Ron Sederoff

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Draft report

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

Draft report

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

May 30, 2018

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Public Meeting #3

April 5 - 6, 2018

Past

About

The third meeting open session was held on Thursday, April 5, 2018 from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm Eastern Time at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC and via live webcast.

Click on the speaker’s name to watch the video recordings

Agenda

Thursday, April 5, 2018
National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20418 | Room 120

10:30 am Welcome and Introduction

Susan Offutt, Committee Chair
Kara Laney, Study Director

10:50 am Risk assessment to support decision making

Katherine von Stackelberg, Center for Health and the Global Environment and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis – View Bio | View Slides

11:10 am Importance of incorporating ecosystem services within the context of social-ecological systems

Larry Kapustka, LK Consultancy – View Bio | View Slides

11:30 am Discussion with morning session speakers

12:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm Improved assessment of risks of gene flow in the environment

Nathalie Isabel, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre – View Bio | View Slides

1:20 pm Levels and logics of public and stakeholder support for the use of genomic tools for forest adaptation

Shannon Hagerman, University of British Columbia – View Bio | View Slides

1:40 pm Discussion with all speakers

2:45 pm Public comment period

3:00 pm Adjourn open session

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt
Vikram Chhatre
Stephen DiFazio
Doria Gordon
Ines Ibanez
Gregory Jaffe
Mark Needham
Clare Palmer
Jeanne Romero-Severson
Ronald Sederoff (remotely)
Diana Six
Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Case studies
Report outline
Writing assignments

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

Report outline

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

April 18, 2018

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

Forestbiotech@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Committee Conference Call

March 12, 2018

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Clare Palmer, Diana Six, Greg Jaffe, Jason Delborne, Ron Sederoff, Steve DiFazio, Vikram Chhatre

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Case studies
Writing assignments

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

March 16, 2018

Contact

Contact us

forestbiotech@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Meeting #2

February 8 - 9, 2018

Past

About

The second meeting open session was held on Thursday, February 8, 2018, from 10:15 am – 3:15 pm Eastern Time at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC.

Click on the speaker’s name to watch the video recordings

Agenda:
Thursday, February 8, 2018
National Academy of Sciences Building
2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20418 | Room 120

Measures and characteristics of forest health most appropriate when evaluating the risk of releasing trees produced using biotechnology

10:15 am Welcome and Introduction

Susan Offutt, Committee Chair
Kara Laney, Study Director

10:30 am Kimberly F. Wallin, Research Associate Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, University of Vermont – View Slides

Kimberly F. Wallin is a research associate professor and associate dean for research and graduate programs with the Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont. Her research explores the complex interactions that define forest ecosystems, focusing on questions related to the patterns and functions of forests in response to human-induced changes in climate, land use, and the introduction of non-native invasive terrestrial organisms. She integrates environmental sociology and ecological economics into her research approach to explore the human dimensions of management decisions and land-use change. Dr. Wallin earned a B.S. in urban forestry from the University of Minnesota and a M.S. and Ph.D. in forest entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

10:45 am Audience Introductions

10:50 am James S. Clark, Nicholas Professor in Global Environmental Change and Professor of Statistical Science, Duke University – View Slides

James S. Clark is Nicholas Professor of Global Environmental Change in the Nicholas School of the Environment and Professor of Statistical Science, at Duke University. Clark’s research focuses on how global change affects populations, communities, and ecosystems. Current projects explore consequences of climate, CO2, and disturbance on dynamics of forests. His lab is using long-term experiments and monitoring studies to determine disturbance and climate controls on the dynamics of 20th century forests in combination with extensive modeling to forecast ecosystem change. Among recent activities he led the National Assessment on Effects of Drought on Forests and Rangelands in the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis, an effort involving more than 70 academic and government scientists. Clark received a BS from the North Carolina State University in Entomology in 1979, a MS from the University of Massachusetts in Forestry and Wildlife in 1984, and a PhD from the University of Minnesota in Ecology in 1988.

11:10 am Gary M. Lovett, Senior Scientist and Forest Ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (presenting remotely) – View Slides

Gary M. Lovett is a senior scientist and forest ecologist with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Union College and a Ph.D. in biology from Dartmouth College. He currently holds visiting or adjunct professorships at Cornell University, the University at Albany, and Rutgers University. Gary’s research focuses primarily on the effects of air pollution, climate change and invasive insects and diseases on forests. He is the author of over 130 scientific publications and editor of two books, and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

11:30 am Discussion with morning session speakers

12:15 pm Lunch

1:00 pm Robert L. Deal, Research Forester and Ecosystem Services and Products Team Leader, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station (presenting remotely) – View Slides

Robert L. Deal is a research forester and science team leader for the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station in Portland, Oregon. As ecosystem services team leader, he directs research on ecosystem services, wood products, and applied silviculture including research to enhance sustainable forestry. Dr. Deal is an internationally recognized authority for ecosystem services and sustainable forest management. He has more than 30 years of professional forester and research experience working in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Dr. Deal is actively involved with leadership roles in both the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and the International Union of Forestry Research Organization (IUFRO).

1:20 pm Robert J. Johnston,Professor of Economics and Director and Research Professor, George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University – View Slides

Robert J. Johnston is a Professor of Economics and Director and Research Professor at The George Perkins Marsh Institute at Clark University. Professor Johnston’s research interests include economic valuation, benefit transfer and ecosystem services, with an emphasis on aquatic, riparian and coastal systems. His recent work has focused on the economics of coastal vulnerability and adaptation (e.g., to sea level rise and coastal flooding), and the coordination of economic and ecological models to value aquatic, riparian and coastal ecosystem services. Beginning in January 2018 he will be editor of the journal Resource and Energy Economics. In addition to his grant-funded research, he works closely with international organizations, government agencies and non-profit organizations to assist in the use of economic information to guide environmental and natural resource decisions. He is a past member of the US EPA Science Advisory Board, and a current member of the Ecosystem Science and Management Working Group of NOAA Scientific Advisory Board, the Steering Committee and Science Advisory Board of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, and the Senior Advisory Board of the Connecticut Sea Grant Program. He has also served on multiple National Research Council Panels for the National Academy of Sciences addressing environmental and natural resource issues. Dr. Johnston received a B.A. from Williams College in 1990 and a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island in 1996. He has been at Clark since 2008.

1:40 pm Christine Dean,Vice President, Global Timberlands Technology, Weyerhaeuser (retired) – View Slides

Christine Dean was the vice president of global timberlands technology for Weyerhaeuser.

Anna Leon, Forest Pathologist, Weyerhaeuser – View Bio

Anna Leon is a forest health specialist with Weyerhaeuser, with a broad focus on all stages of nursery, orchard, and forest health of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest and loblolly pine in the Southeastern United States. Her role includes managing internal applied research projects focused on mitigating pest damage, serving as an industry partner in university lead forest health research initiatives, and providing technical advice and diagnostic expertise to company foresters and seedling growers. Prior to her role with Weyerhaeuser, she primarily worked on seedling nursery pathogen issues, including exploring alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation and improved detection of Fusarium commune in nursery soils. Dr. Leon received her B.S. in biology from Western Washington University, M.S. in forest science from the University of Washington, and Ph.D. in plant pathology from Washington State University.

2:00 pm Discussion with afternoon session speakers

2:45 pm Public comment period

3:00 pm Continuation of discussion with speakers

3:15 pm Adjourn open session

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt
Vikram Chhatre
Jason Delborne
Stephen DiFazio
Doria Gordon
Ines Ibanez
Gregory Jaffe
Mark Needham
Clare Palmer
Jeanne Romero-Severson
Ronald Sederoff
Diana Six
Richard Sniezko

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Metrics of forest health
Case studies

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

February 21, 2018

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

TeleConference Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Committee Conference call

December 21, 2017

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EST)

Past

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt
Vikram Chhatre
Jason Delborne
Stephen DiFazio
Doria Gordon
Ines Ibanez
Gregory Jaffe
Mark Needham
Clare Palmer
Ronald Sederoff

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Speakers for future meetings and webinars

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

Lists of possible speakers for future meetings and webinars

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

December 22, 2017

Contact

Kara Laney

(202) 334-1954
klaney@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health - Meeting #1

December 1 - 2, 2017

Past

About

The first meeting open session was held on Friday, December 1, 2017 from 10:30 am – 6:00 pm Eastern Time at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC. At the meeting, the committee heard from the study sponsors and invited speakers.

Click on the speaker’s name to watch the video recordings.

Agenda:
December 1, 2017
National Academy of Sciences Building
2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20418 | Room 120

10:30 am Welcome

Susan Offutt, Committee Chair

10:35 am The National Academies Study Process

Kara Laney, Study Director

10:40 am Committee Introductions

10:45 am Sponsor Presentations

10:45 am U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

Michael Goergen, Vice President, Innovation and Director, P3Nano

Mr. Michael Goergen joined the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) in September of 2013 to lead efforts focused on innovation in the forest sector. He is focused on taking cellulosic nanotechnology from the lab to commercialization, advancing mass timber construction, and is bringing together partners in the public and private sectors to accelerate the development of innovative uses of renewable materials from forests. Prior to joining the Endowment, Mr. Goergen was Executive Vice President and CEO of the Society of American Foresters. He focused on bringing innovation to a 100-year-old professional society, while staying focused on the core organizational values: Thriving forests, essential resources, and strong communities. Mr. Goergen has extensive experience in government affairs, scientific publishing, and communications – most recently delivering a TEDx talk.

11:10 am U.S. Department of Agriculture–Forest Service

Carlos Rodriguez-Franco, Deputy Chief, Research and Development

Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Franco is Deputy Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. He is responsible for providing national leadership to comprehensive scientific programs, many of which have worldwide impact on providing fundamental and applied knowledge to important environmental, conservation, and utilization problems. His specific responsibilities cover an exceptionally broad and complex array of research spanning multidisciplinary components that must be successfully integrated to solve vegetation management and protection knowledge and technology gaps. Before joining the Forest Service, Dr. Rodriquez-Franco worked in the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service where he was based in the Office of International Research Programs. Dr. Rodriquez-Franco received his Ph.D. in forestry from Yale University and has more than 30 years’ experience in research, academic, and administration forestry positions.

11:35 am U.S. Department of Agriculture–Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Susan Koehler, Intergovernmental Agricultural Biotechnology Liaison – View Slides

Dr. Susan Koehler currently serves as the Intergovernmental Agricultural Biotechnology Liaison in the Intergovernmental Operations Group of Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) within the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). She has been with the APHIS biotechnology regulatory program since 1994, first serving as a Biotechnologist, and most recently as Branch Chief of the Plants Branch within the Biotechnology Risk Analysis Program. As Branch Chief she supervised the review and preparation of risk analyses and environmental assessments for permit or notification applications to move or release genetically engineered (GE) plants and for petitions for deregulation. Additional contributions in this position include: the development of Notification and Permit User’s Guides; policies and processes related to evaluation of impacts to federally listed threatened and endangered species, review and approval of field trials of pharma- and industrial-producing plants, large scale field trials, and trees and other perennials under permit; plant pest risk assessments for petitions; and international standards and agreements on the review of genetically engineered crops. Currently, she develops and implements strategies to leverage BRS’ relationships with other domestic government agencies, scientific societies, academic institutions, and other public and private entities to assess and address the impacts, overlap, or conflict of BRS operations or policies on these entities and on government programs, initiatives or priorities. She facilitates the development, coordination or harmonization of appropriate responses, regulatory or non-regulatory solutions, policy or guidance in coordination with BRS, APHIS, and USDA program units to ensure that their needs, expectations and concerns are addressed on issues related to biotechnology, agriculture, plant health, and the environment using the best available science. Prior to APHIS, Dr. Koehler conducted post-doctoral research at the USDA–Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville and conducted research as a Biological Scientist at Monsanto. She received her B.S. in agronomy from the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, and her Ph.D. in plant biology from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Her expertise includes plant biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology; plant tissue culture; and risk assessment of transgenic organisms, conventional fruit and vegetable commodities, and herbicide resistance.

12:00 pm Environmental Protection Agency

John L. Kough, Senior Scientist, Office of Pesticide Programs, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division – View Slides

Dr. John L. Kough is a senior scientist in the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Dr. Kough has been at EPA since 1990 and has worked in the biotechnology programs of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. In his work with the Office of Pesticide Programs, he has reviewed the scientific data submitted for plant-incorporated protectants (genetically engineered plants) and many of the microbial and biochemical pesticides currently registered. Dr. Kough has presented EPA’s position at numerous Scientific Advisory Panels on topics like product characterization, protein toxicity assessment, RNA interference and food allergenicity. He attended Reed College and received a B.A. in biology in 1975. He has a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Oregon State University, had a post-doctoral fellowship with the French Agricultural Research Institute (INRA) in Dijon, and worked for IGEN, a biotechnology company designing immunoassays for plant pathogens, before joining EPA.

12:25 pm Lunch
1:30 pm U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service

Kevin Hackett, Senior National Program Leader, Crop Entomology – View Slides

Since 1998, Dr. Kevin Hackett has been a senior national program leader with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), with program responsibility for crop pests and beneficial insects, including pollinators. He is also co-chair of the Federal Interagency Committee for Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, co-chair of i5K (the international initiative to sequence 5000 arthropods), and part of the team that founded the Earth BioGenome Project. Prior to joining ARS’ National Program Staff, he was the eastern coordinator for the John Muir Institute for Environmental Studies, followed by 16 years as an insect pathologist for ARS in Beltsville, Maryland, where his research focused on spiroplasmas, which are small bacteria without cell walls. Dr. Hackett holds a Ph.D. in insect pathology from the University of California, Berkeley.

1:55 pm U.S. Department of Agriculture–National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Timothy Conner, Director, Division of Bioenergy – View Slides

Dr. Timothy Conner is the director for the Division of Bioenergy, Bioproducts and Bioeconomy in the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment within USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master of Science degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in genetics from the University of Minnesota. In 1987, he became a NIH postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Georgia. In 1990, Dr. Conner joined the Monsanto Company and was a visiting scientist at the Rockefeller University’s Lab of Plant Molecular Biology and a senior research biologist. Many of Dr. Conner’s earlier contributions were as a functional leader in two programs: a) Genomics and b) Biotechnology, where he focused on the innovation of enabling technologies useful for the implementation of new strategies and product opportunities for crops including food, feed, and biologicals. Other roles that Dr. Conner held were in the Monsanto Technology organization as the Vice President of Global Oilseeds and Food Technology, and South America Technology Strategy Lead in the International Commercial organization. He was the biotechnology lead in Monsanto Vegetable’s R&D organization in Woodland and the General Manager and Site Director for Monsanto’s Chemistry Technology organization in Woodland and Davis, which focused on new Ag technology platforms. Dr. Conner joined USDA in 2017 and is excited to serve his community in his new role within NIFA.

2:20 pm General Committee Discussion with Sponsors

2:45 pm Break

3:00 pm Public Attitudes and Philosophical Perspectives on the Use of Biotechnology to Address Forest Health

Evelyn Brister, Associate Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology – View Slides

Dr. Evelyn Brister is an associate professor in the Philosophy Department at Rochester Institute of Technology. She has a Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University (2002) and an M.S. in environmental science from Rochester Institute of Technology (2012). Her research focuses on identifying priorities in forest management and, more generally, on supporting reasoning about values in scientific contexts, including climate policy and science education. She has published articles on values that shape different responses to the genetically engineered American chestnut and on the challenges to incorporating humanities and social scientific perspectives into scientific research.

3:30 pm Why Biotech Solutions are Needed to Address Forest Health

Steve Strauss, Professor, Oregon State University – View Slides

Dr. Steve Strauss is a Distinguished Professor of Forest Biotechnology in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society at Oregon State University (OSU). He also has a joint appointment in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program. He is the director of the Tree Biosafety and Genomics Research Cooperative at OSU, a university-public agency-industry consortium that has conducted research on the biosafety and physiology of genetically engineered trees for 23 years. In 2005 he became a Leopold Leadership Fellow as part of a program aimed at training environmental scientists to be more effective at influencing public policy and presenting science to news media. Dr. Strauss has earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Cornell University, a master of science degree in forest science from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a doctorate degree in forestry genetics from the University of California at Berkeley. He has published more than 230 scientific papers, given more than 260 invited lectures on biotechnology and genetics of trees, and obtained more than 24 million dollars of competitive grant support. He has also advised governments and written in scientific journals about national and international regulations on field research and commercial development of genetically engineered crops and trees. Dr. Strauss’ current research focuses on genetic engineering of flowering for genetic containment and identification of genes that control the capacity for gene insertion and plant regeneration. His lab emphasizes poplar and eucalypt trees in its research.

4:00 pm Threats to and Efforts to Protect Acacia Koa in Hawaii

Dulal Borthakur, Professor, University of Hawai’i at Manoa – View Slides

Dr. Dulal Borthakur is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu. He received his master degree in plant breeding from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India and PhD in molecular Biology from University of East Anglia, Norwich, England. He teaches courses in molecular cell biology and biotechnology to undergraduate and graduate students, and conducts research on biochemical and molecular biological aspects of two tree legumes, Acacia koa (koa) and Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena). Koa is a major timber wood tree on the Hawaiian Islands and leucaena is used as a perennial high-protein fodder for farm animals. Dr. Borthakur’s earlier research was primarily on genes for biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides in the root nodule bacterium Rhizobium and determining their role in symbiosis with legumes. His current research on leucaena focuses on degradation and biosynthesis of mimosine, a toxic non-protein amino acid produced by this tree. His research on koa focuses on developing molecular methods for selecting seedlings for resistance to wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum. He is the author or a coauthor of 78 refereed publications.

4:30 pm How a Single Gene May Help Save the American Chestnut

William A. Powell, Professor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – View Slides

Dr. William A. Powell is a professor with the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY–ESF). He is also the director of SUNY–ESF’s Council on Biotechnology in Forestry and The American Chestnut Research & Restoration Program. Dr. Powell received his B.S. in biology in 1982 at Salisbury University, Maryland, and his Ph.D. in 1986 at Utah State University studying the molecular mechanisms of hypovirulence in the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. He spent over 2 years as a postdoctoral associate at University of Florida researching transformation techniques using the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. In 1989 he became a faculty member at SUNY–ESF in Syracuse, New York, where he began collaborating with his colleague, Dr. Charles Maynard, researching methods to develop a blight-resistant American chestnut (Castanea dentata). He has also worked with American elm and hybrid poplar. Dr. Powell currently has over 50 peer reviewed publications and one patent. He teaches courses in principles of genetics, plant biotechnology, how to present research to the public, and biotechnology freshman orientation.

5:00 pm General Committee Discussion with Speakers

5:30 pm Adjourn Open Session

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

Susan Offutt, Vikram Chhatre, Jason Delborne, Stephen DiFazio, Doria Gordon, Ines Ibanez, Gregory Jaffe, Mark Needham, Clare Palmer, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Ronald Sederoff, Diana Six

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Case studies
Information-gathering needs
Committee composition

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

None

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

December 21, 2017

Contact

Jenna Briscoe

jbriscoe@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

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The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health

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