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PhytoPRISM to coordinate European efforts against pests
AREFLH is participating in a €6 million project to combat the growing threat of plant pests to European crops.
The Assembly of European Horticultural Regions (AREFLH) announces its partnership with the PhytoPRISM consortium, a brand-new European project aimed at establishing the first platform capable of coordinating the European response to devastating agricultural and forest pest invasions. As a project partner, AREFLH is presenting the creation of this “platform to support a systemic approach to phytosanitary risk management.” This new “Horizon Europe” initiative is funded by the European Commission under the “Farm to Fork” program.
15 Research Institutes Involved
Coordinated by the University of Warwick, this €6 million project brings together 15 research institutes and stakeholder organizations from eight European countries (United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Italy), which will develop innovative solutions to manage risks associated with plant pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems. In fact, insects and pathogens in particular destroy up to 40% of global agricultural production each year and pose a growing threat to food security, biodiversity, and forest resilience in Europe. The growing impacts of climate change and global trade continue to accelerate the introduction and spread of new pests, posing significant challenges for farmers, policymakers, and plant health authorities.
A decision-support platform
PhytoPRISM aims to address these challenges by developing a comprehensive platform that facilitates decision-making throughout the agri-food value chain. For the first time, plant protection authorities will be able to model, evaluate, and optimize pest management strategies, from prevention and early detection to control and long-term mitigation. According to the project coordinator, Dr. Stephen Parnell of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick: “Until now, plant protection authorities have had to make critical decisions without ever having a complete picture of the situation. PhytoPRISM combines the best of modern epidemiological modeling with the practical knowledge of people on the ground, giving them the tools to make smarter, faster, and more cost-effective decisions.”
Systemic Crisis Management
By moving beyond fragmented approaches and promoting coordinated, systemic pest management, PhytoPRISM will help strengthen the resilience of European agriculture and forestry while supporting the objectives of the European Green Deal and the “Farm to Fork” strategy. AREFLH will contribute its expertise and its European network of stakeholders in the fruit and vegetable sector to the project, thereby helping to ensure that the project’s results meet the needs of producers and regional stakeholders across the EU.
For more information on the development of innovative solutions that protect crops, click here.
