Fall 2026 OLLI Digital Catalog

PLANT HEALTH AND GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY (P204)

P – Life Sciences

Plant health is fundamental to the production of crops which are important to the survival of humanity. The goal of this course is to explore plant pathology as a  biological science with important ties to human welfare. Participants gain  an understanding of food production systems and the impact of plant disease caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes as well as climate change, and their impact on human culture through lectures, readings and discussions about major plant epidemics and famines throughout history.

This offering meets for a total of 11 session(s).

INSTRUCTOR: Tom Evans

EVANS, THOMAS — B.S., M.S., botany, Cal Poly, Pomona; Ph.D., botany, plant pathology, Michigan State University. Emeritus UD professor of botany and plant pathology, serving 37 years. Research group focused on etiology, epidemiology and control of lima bean diseases, important for Delaware agriculture. Led 10 study abroad trips to Ecuador and the Galapagos, as well as USAID-funded programs in Ecuador, Morocco, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for sustainable vegetable crop production.

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