معرفی
Leonard Coop is an Associate Professor (Practice) in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences. He specializes in developing weather and climate-driven models for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), plant disease risk assessment, and agricultural decision support systems. As Associate Director of the Oregon IPM Center, he oversees the USPEST.ORG platform, which provides critical resources for pest prediction and management. His work bridges computational biology, entomology, and horticultural science, emphasizing practical tools for farmers and agricultural professionals.
Education: Ph.D. in Entomology (Oregon State University, 1987), M.S. Entomology (1983), B.A. Biology (Baker University, 1979).
Research Focus: Coop’s research centers on phenology modeling, climate impact analysis, and the application of GIS and online tools for IPM. He has pioneered systems for predicting pest emergence, disease risk, and crop scheduling using degree-day models and real-time weather data. Notable contributions include models for Swiss needle cast in forests, cherry fruit fly management, and spotted wing Drosophila forecasting.
Grants & Collaborations: Active in USDA-funded initiatives, including the Western Weather Workgroup and the Integrated Plant Protection Center. Collaborates with international organizations on projects like millet crop loss assessment in West Africa and climate adaptation strategies for Pacific Northwest agriculture.
Labs & Teams: Leads the Decision Support Systems unit at the Oregon IPM Center, coordinating interdisciplinary teams to develop user-friendly tools for growers. His group also maintains partnerships with agencies such as the USDA-APHIS and the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN).
