Emerging and future risks to plant health

Proposals should target one or more new or emerging[[EFSA Scientific Colloquium XVI]] plant pests[[A pest is defined here as any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products (EU legislation, Regulation 2016/2031)]] (regulated, non-regulated, introduced or native) that are causing or likely to cause, significant (socio) economic and/or environmental losses to agriculture and/or forestry in the EU and/or Associated Countries. Within the scope of this topic are pests exhibiting an altered and higher probability of entry and spread in a new area that might be the result of changes in their biology or changes in agriculture or forestry pest management practice or rapid spread in new areas[[EFSA Scientific Colloquium XVI]]. The choice of target pest(s) should consider the potential threat in terms of development and spread, its potential exacerbation under climate change as well as the potential impact on agricultural production, forestry, trade and the wider environment (including soil and water). Activities should consider both the conventional and the organic sectors.

Proposals should:

• Increase knowledge of the biology, pathways of entry, behaviour in the plant-soil system where relevant, and drivers of spread including the influence of climate change and globalization of pest(s);
• Improve methods and strategies for prevention, early detection and surveillance;
• Develop and uptake rapid and effective tools for the prevention of entry, spread and establishment, early detection, surveillance, treatment and (bio) control of plant pests for a sustainable and integrated pest management;
• Identify and introduce resistance traits to support the long term sustainability of agriculture and forestry in the EU and/or Associated Countries;
• Assess the social and economic implications for farmers and ecological impacts of the plant pest(s) and the development of approaches on how to best cope with these situations;
• Integrate citizen science as a tool to monitor emerging pests.

International cooperation with countries affected or threatened by the same pest(s) is strongly encouraged. Proposals must implement the “multi-actor approach” including a range of actors to ensure that knowledge and needs from various sectors such as research, plant health services and the farming/forestry sector are brought together. In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

The possible participation of the JRC in the project will consist of support on the analysis of the potential impact of the studied pests and the development of economic and environmentally sound solutions for effective pest management in farming and forestry in line with the principles of integrated pest management in particular their acceptance by farmers.