OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
Discover a captivating reality hidden behind international borders! Many countries strictly forbid the import of certain foods, natural handicrafts, medicinal wonders, and even snacks. Why, you ask? The reason is simple yet profound: the potential for these items to harbor pests and diseases that could jeopardize not only our food supply but also our health and the environment.
"Don’t Pack a Pest for Academic Travelers Program" is a dynamic collaboration between Oregon Sea Grant Extension and University of Minnesota Extension. Our mission is to enlighten academic travelers about the perils of transporting agricultural items across borders during their journeys. We work to build a national network of academic travelers (international and study abroad students, faculty, and administrators) who are dedicated to minimizing our global travel footprint by educating travelers about the risks of traveling with potentially harmful agricultural items, and to always declare any items at the border.
OUR GOAL is to help reduce the spread of harmful pests, diseases, and invasive species that threaten our food supply, human health, agriculture, economy, and natural ecosystems.
International and study abroad students constitute the largest faction of global travelers. The United States, in particular, plays host to a staggering number of international students, nearing 1.1 million in the 2019-20 academic year. By engaging with student travelers, including international and study abroad students, this initiative forges a mutually beneficial partnership, fostering learning and empowering students to become part of the solution to invasive species while positively impacting society at large.
This project was initially developed by Oregon Sea Grant, at Oregon State University, and is part of the national Don’t Pack a Pest program, which was first launched in the 1990s by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
We take a science-based research approach to fully understand the current system of international student programs and student awareness and behavior. We work with federal and institutional partners, and students, to conduct surveys and focus groups to collect accurate, researched-based information on the academic traveler’s experiences and needs. As a result, our work will inform outreach that is adapted to support the specific needs of each partner institution and their students and faculty.
Become a part of our national partnership to enhance your students' and faculty's travel experiences. We are looking to collaborate with university/college international and study abroad programs, international agriculture programs, and globe-trotting faculty and scholars to educate travelers about 'Don't Pack a Pest.' Contact us at [email protected] for details.
Your support helps us provide valuable resources for your students, making them responsible global travelers and easing customs-related stress.
