DHAKA: The United States experts, to help Bangladesh, are going to create a network of plant pest and disease diagnostic laboratories to enable local research institutions to better share resources and experience.

However, it will help to improve the capacity of diagnosing plant diseases and pests to ensure that crops are safe for domestic consumption while meeting international requirements for export certification.

In this regard, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized a 4-day conference in capital with the government, academia and agricultural research institutions of Bangladesh, ended on Wednesday.

A press release, sent by the embassy of the United States of America, said that their experts from Purdue University, the University of Florida, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service led the first annual Bangladesh Plant Health Laboratory Conference as part of a partnership between the U.S. plant health program and Bangladesh laboratories.

Nevertheless, participants explored ways there to expand collaboration in Bangladesh to ensure that crops are safe for domestic consumption while meeting international requirements for export certification.

BDST: 1150 HRS, SEP 04, 2014