History of the Center for Biological Control

by Dr. Charles W. O’Brien

Due to the continual increase in interest in the environment and natural resources, there is a shift away from traditional pest control utilizing chemicals (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) with strong movement towards biological control.

Research in biological control has been ongoing at Florida A&M University (FAMU) since 1975, in collaboration with the USDA-ARS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with emphasis on taxonomic research of weevils, in support of biological control efforts against exotic weeds in Florida, the U. S. and various areas of the world.

In late summer of 1997, Professor Charles O'Brien was contacted by the National Biological Control Institute (NBCI) of USDA - APHIS and asked about FAMU's interest in collaborating with the USDA in biological control research. Soon after a grant was awarded by NBCI to Dr. O’Brien and FAMU to study the feasibility of developing a Center for Biological Control at the University.

In November 1997, a number of Federal and State agencies held a meeting at FAMU to discuss the possibility of establishing a Center for Biological Control at FAMU. The feasibility study for the Center for Biological Control at FAMU was to be carried out to determine the ways in which such center might meet the mutually desired goals of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FAMU for future interaction and possible partnerships, including possible collaboration with the Florida Department of Agriculture (Division of Plant Industry) and with biological control researchers at the University of Florida.

The importance of biological control, in the present and the future, was recognized by the USDA and the State of Florida, and FAMU’s expertise and long term experience in the field made it a logical choice for establishment of such Center. The prestige of FAMU and its success in attracting and graduating large numbers of high quality minority students also contributed markedly to its selection as a site for a Biological Control Center.

Following a successful completion of the feasibility study in 1998, two agencies of the USDA, namely APHIS and ARS, placed personnel on the FAMU campus, as members of the Center and Adjunct Faculty to work with FAMU faculty in research and as graduate student advisors and directors with FAMU faculty of student research. Two of these USDA personnel also serve as Co-Directors with the FAMU Director, Dr. O’Brien.

page content updated 31 July 2002