May 12, 2017
Kevin McCluskey named to National Genetic Resources Advisory Council
Kevin McCluskey, research professor and curator of the Fungal Genetics Stock Center in K-State's plant pathology department, has been appointed to a three-year term on the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council.
The council formulates recommendations on actions and policies for the collection, maintenance and utilization of genetic resources; makes recommendations for coordination of genetic resources plans; and advises the secretary of agriculture and the National Genetic Resources Program director of new and innovative approaches to genetic resources conservation.
More recently, the council was charged with advising the U.S. Department of Agriculture on ways to ensure that the National Genetic Resources Program serves the needs of all farmers for high quality and diverse seed for their particular farming operations, as well as how to develop a broad strategy for maintaining plant biodiversity available to agriculture, and strengthening public sector plant breeding capacities.
McCluskey is the first plant pathologist/microbiologist to serve on the council.