Kerns awarded Norman Borlaug Lifetime Achievement Award

David Kerns, Ph.D., was recently awarded the highest honor by the Texas Plant Protection Association, TPPA, for his work on Bt pest resistance and in integrated pest management.

Kerns, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service statewide IPM coordinator, professor and associate department head for AgriLife Extension in the Department of Entomology, Bryan-College Station, received the association’s Norman Borlaug Lifetime Achievement Award during its annual conference in December.

Kerns said it was an honor to receive an award named after Borlaug, who is a giant in the agricultural world. He said he is most proud to receive the honor because it was awarded from an organization whose members include academics, consultants and industry professionals he has worked with closely over the course of his career.

“It means more,” he said. “It’s Texas-based, and those people know me best. A lot of times awards are based on what’s on the paper, but to receive this award from colleagues and friends is great.”

Praise for Kerns’ award-worthy work

Phillip Kaufman, Ph.D., Department of Entomology head, said Kerns has left an indelible mark as a researcher and educator over the course of his career, adding his work continues to impact producers, professionals and students. 

“Dr. Kerns has not only advanced research in support of Texas agriculture, but he has trained our future scientists, many of whom are making their own contributions to furthering Dr. Borlaug’s lifelong commitment to agriculture and food production,” Kaufman said.

Ray Smith, TPPA chairman, said Kerns’ work in Bt resistance and with AgriLife Extension’s IPM program across Texas lead to him receiving the award.

Bt is a naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis, that has been used to control caterpillars and other insect larvae since 1996. The bacteria is utilized via foliar spray, but its greatest impact has been from its genetic introduction into crops like corn and cotton. After decades of exposure to these technologies, some populations of these pests have developed resistance to some Bt toxins.

Bt resistance management continues to be a major focus for Kerns’ research and outreach. His data helps develop models and guide policy related to the sustainable management and mitigation of crop-damaging pests like earworms in corn and bollworms in cotton.

Kerns’ Bt-resistance program also helps provide economic thresholds for treatment of pests, which help farmers monitor pest populations and act when it is most economically feasible to protect crops.

“A lot of work goes into how to manage the slow development of resistance to Bt technologies,” he said. “Resistance continues to be a challenge that we help producers navigate.”

A statewide approach to pest management

Smith said Texas A&M AgriLife’s “triangle approach” through research, education and outreach has helped crop producers throughout Texas control weeds, pests and diseases by bringing the latest science-based information and methods to them.

Smith said Kerns’ work continues to positively impact Texas agriculture and farmers.

“Dr. Kerns has been supportive of our organization’s mission of providing growers with good information in all areas of pest management,” he said. “Texas A&M AgriLife has saved Texas farmers money, time and heartache by building up a strong IPM program, and Dr. Kerns’ work with Bt resistance is making a big difference for growers.”

Kerns said the statewide IPM program is successful because of the agents and specialists in the field. Those experts produce and disseminate data that impact the growers they support regionally.

“It has to be one of the most, if not the most, impactful programs in Texas A&M AgriLife, and it’s due to the people in the program,” he said. “We measure our success by the impacts we make for growers. The program also works closely with growers around the state, and organizations like TPPA are an important part of that communication and engagement.”