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Emerging Plant Health Threats Identified In EFSA’s December 2024 Horizon Scanning Newsletter
EFSA's December 2024 Plant Health Newsletter highlights emerging threats to EU agriculture, including new fungal pathogens, invasive beetles, and the critical role of public engagement in pest detection. The findings underscore the importance of proactive monitoring to safeguard plant health and biodiversity across Europe.
Published in January 2025. Dates, deadlines and stages may have changed since.
Dr Steven Brennan
2 min readAI-drafted, expert reviewed
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released its Plant Health Horizon Scanning Newsletter – December 2024, detailing newly identified threats to plant health across the EU. These findings spotlight pathogens and pests that pose significant risks to agriculture and biodiversity.
Colletotrichum Perseae: A New Anthracnose Threat
Who: First detection of Colletotrichum perseae in Türkiye.
What: Identified as the cause of anthracnose on avocados and other hosts, including bell peppers, grapes, and olives.
Where: Found in Mardin, southeastern Türkiye, expanding its known range from Israel and New Zealand.
Why: Its rapid spread raises concerns about its impact on avocado production in susceptible regions.
How: Symptoms include brown necrotic lesions on fruits; confirmed through morphological and molecular analyses.
Expanding Host Ranges And Geographies Of Fungi
Diaporthe goulteri: Newly reported on soybean in Germany, marking its first appearance in the EU.Fusarium asiaticum: Found causing leaf spot disease on blue honeysuckle in China.
Emerging Pests With Wider Implications
Neopestalotiopsis rosae: A growing concern for strawberry growers, documented in Germany and several countries, including the USA and Taiwan.Popillia japonica: This invasive beetle, already present in Italy and Portugal, has been detected in Bavaria, Germany, potentially transported via trade.
Public Participation In Pest Surveillance
The newsletter also emphasises the vital role of public engagement in early pest detection, highlighting platforms like iNaturalist that aggregate citizen observations.
EFSA’s Proactive Monitoring Programme
The EFSA’s horizon scanning process involves advanced surveillance systems like MEDISYS, monitoring over 2,700 plant pests worldwide. This proactive approach ensures timely responses to emerging plant health threats, benefiting EU Member States and agricultural stakeholders.
Official source
efsa.europa.euTopics
Questions about this change
What is Colletotrichum perseae, and why is it a concern?
Colletotrichum perseae is a fungal pathogen causing anthracnose in avocados. Its recent detection in Türkiye signals a potential spread into Europe, threatening avocado and other crops like bell peppers and olives.
How does EFSA monitor emerging plant health threats?
EFSA employs the MEDISYS platform, analysing global reports and scientific literature to track over 2,700 plant pests, ensuring early detection and proactive management of plant health risks.
Dr Steven Brennan
CEO and co-founder of Foresight, and a co-opted member of ECHA's Committee for Socio-economic Analysis. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering.
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