Dave Hodson

Dr Dave Hodson is a Principal Scientist with CIMMYT (International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center) currently based in Mexico after spending the last 7 years in Ethiopia. For the last 15 years he has worked on developing and coordinating a Global Wheat Rust Monitoring System in response to the threat posed by wheat stem rust Ug99. The wheat rust monitoring system now covers approximately 40 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He also coordinates a surveillance system for Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) in Eastern and Southern Africa. In addition, he is involved in projects using advanced modeling for wheat rust early warning in East Africa and South Asia, and also on improved pathogen and host diagnostics using molecular tools in Ethiopia. His research focuses on the surveillance and monitoring of emerging cereal disease threats and the application of geo-spatial technology for improved decision support.