CIIDS

 

Problem:

Universities were facing increasing challenges in economically and efficiently submitting, diagnosing, and reporting plant diseases.  Field submissions were often incomplete, and the process of sharing a diagnosis and treatment plan with both the original client and with national databases such as the NPDN was cumbersome, most often being completed by hand.  Sample turnaround time was excessive, delaying treatment and potentially costing millions of dollars to commercial growers and posing health risks.

Solution:

CIIDS created Distance Diagnostics through Digital Imaging (DDDI), an educational program and system that provided field agents the ability to submit plant disease samples, plant and insect identification samples, and many other agricultural problem samples by way of digital imaging (macro and microscopic) via the Internet. Customized, printable forms were incorporated into the system, allowing lab technicians to quickly produce and share their findings as well as maintaining accurate records of diseases that can be organized and searched by plant type, time period, geographic region, etc.  For more information on the DDDI program, please visit http://www.dddi.org.