Project Summary

This proposal, SFS-03a-2014-aligned, focuses to minimize the risk of introduction/impact of emerging pests threatening EU agriculture and forestry. The targets are: 1) Xylella fastidiosa and its vectors in olive, grapevine, citrus, stone fruit, ornamentals and landscape trees of high socio-economic importance; 2) ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ and its vectors affecting a number of strategic crops such as potato, tomato and carrot; and 3) Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (anomorph. Chalara fraxinea) and Phytophthora spp. seriously affecting broadleaf and conifer species in forest ecosystems. Targeted pests, their vectors and the host response will be explored using innovative approaches (NGS, transcriptomic). Diseases surveillance and epidemiology given by current methods will integrate improved survey protocols and remote sensing. Innovative IPM will include studies of microbiome to develop sustainable solutions in line with the EU plant health legislation. New knowledge gained with POnTE will result in an outcome-based pest prevention and management work plan to: a) implement area-wide pest risk assessments; b) prevent the entry and develop surveillance and early detection tools (diagnostic kits, lab-on-chip, new biomarkers); c) mitigate the spread and reduce the socio-economic impact; d) IPM based on disease resistance, disease-free seeds, cultural practices and physical environmentally-friendly treatments; e) support knowledge-based decision-making policies at EU level. The proposal fosters and promotes a multi-actor approach and transnational research collaborations among 25 Partners at the forefront of research in plant protection, agro-engineering and economics. It involves key industries/SMEs that develop diagnostic kits and services, agrochemical and seed companies, stakeholder groups. End-users will participate in the development of the project and immediately implement the practical solutions derived from the outcomes to solve these serious emerging diseases.

List of Beneficiaries

  1. CNR, ITALIAN NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, Italy
  2. UNIBA, UNIVERSITY OF BARI ALDO MORO, Italy
  3. INRA, FRENCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, France
  4. ANSES, FRENCH AGENCY FOR FOOD, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, France
  5. IVIA, VALENCIAN INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, Spain
  6. CSIC, SPANISH NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, Spain
  7. SG SASA, SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT–SCIENCE AND ADVICE FOR SCOTTISH AGRICULTURE, United Kingdom
  8. FORESTRY COMMISSION RESEARCH AGENCY, United Kingdom
  9. BFW, FEDERAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTRE FOR FORESTS, NATURAL HAZARDS AND LANDSCAPE, Austria
  10. LUKE, NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE FINLAND, Finland
  11. WU, WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY, The Netherlands
  12. NIBIO, NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE OF BIOECONOMY RESEARCH, Norway
  13. UCR, UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA, Costa Rica
  14. ARO, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION OF ISRAEL, THE VOLCANI, Israel
  15. UB, UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, Serbia
  16. CERTIS EUROPE B.V., The Netherlands
  17. AUREA IMAGING BVBA, Belgium
  18. VILMORIN S.A., France
  19. LOEWE BIOCHEMICA GMBH, Germany
  20. PHYTOPHTHORA RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY, Germany
  21. ACLI RACALE–AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETY, Italy
  22. AGRITEST SRL, Italy
  23. CITOLIVA FOUNDATION, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR OLIVE FARMING AND OLIVE OIL, Spain
  24. AGRICULTURAL VILLENA COOPERATIVE, Spain
  25. A L TOZER LTD, United Kingdom