b'Dealing with APHIS? Heres Who You Should KnowSeed World pulls a curtain back to look at the leadership team behind APHIS.Alex MartinITS BEEN NEARLY50 years since the creation of theronmentally significant pests as well as facilitating the safe trade Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in theof ag products.USDA office, and its mission stays vital every day. What is it?El-Lissy has been serving as deputy administrator for APHIS Healthy and profitable American agriculture provides foodPPQ since 2013. In particular, El-Lissy has plenty of experience and clothing for countless people worldwide and is key to ourwith one specific pest: boll weevil. Hes previously worked and economy, APHIS says.managed large scale pest control and eradication programs But, do you know the faces behind the organization from 1994 to 2000 and worked within APHIS rom 2000-2005 as namely, the leadership to keep in mind when working withthe national coordinator for cotton pest programs. APHIS? Heres a few to keep in mind: One particular win El-Lissys team has had recently was the 2019 eradication of the plum pox virus. Bernadette Juarez, BiotechnologyWe ended our fight with a victory for Americas farmers, he Regulatory Services. If you work with bio- says. Plum pox disease is the worlds most devastating viral dis-technology, youre probably familiar withease of stone fruit like plums, almonds and peaches. This eradi-the Biotechnology Regulatory Servicescation protected an industry whose crops are worth $6.8 billion (BRS), which is a part of APHIS that imple- with a $5 billion export value.ments regulations for certain organisms developed using genetic engineeringCheryle Blakely, International Services. that may pose a risk to plant health. Leading the BRS charge isAnother face you might recognize, if Bernadette Juarez, deputy administrator. youve worked in the phytosanitary realm Appointed in Aug. 2019, Juarez provides leadership andof seeds, is Cheryle Blakely, deputy admin-direction to ensure the safe development and introduction ofistrator of APHIS International Services. organisms developed using genetic engineering. She previ- Blakely leads a diverse team of employ-ously served as deputy administrator for animal care to ensureees, both internationally and domestically. the welfare of millions of animals nationwide. Prior to coming toUnder Blakelys guidance, International Services is responsible APHIS, Juarez was a trial attorney in the USDAs Office of thefor collaborating with foreign partners to control pests and General Counsel.diseases. She directs the cooperative engagements with foreign Youll know Juarez and her team, as they were behind thegovernments to safeguard U.S. agriculture from pests and dis-publication of the first-ever, major revision of the USDAs biotech- eases entering the U.S. nology regulations. Blakelys staff facilitated the arrival of U.S. dairy cattle in The revised regulations are projected to save developers anLagos as part of a demonstration project and collaboration estimated $8.3 million in annual costs, and uphold our strongbetween U.S. Consulate-Lagos and Nigerian stakeholders. While commitment to protecting plant health, Juarez says.the market for U.S. cattle to Nigeria is yet to open, this project has allowed the import of 291 U.S. cattle as part of the National Osama El-Lissy, Plant Protection andLivestock Transformation Plan. In addition, her staff works closely Quarantine. If youve heard anything aboutwith agricultural importers to ensure issues concerning products phytosanitary concerns, youve likelydetained for sanitary or phytosanitary concerns are addressed. heard a comment from Dr. Osama El-Lissy,This close-working relationship often results in shipments being deputy administrator of APHIS Plantreleased and allowed to enter the importing country. For the Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). APHISyears 2019 and 2020, International Services was successful in PPQ works to safeguard the U.S. againsteffecting the release over 500 shipments of U.S. agricultural the entry, establishment and spread of economically and envi- products in foreign countries worth over $127 million.SW6/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2021'