Plant protection means used in organic farming throughout the European Union

Following the obligatory implementation of integrated pest management in the European Union (EU), the plant protection means suitable for application in organic agriculture attracted the attention of quite a wide group of potential users. In spite of the common rules of organic production, as well as the uniform principles of placing plant protection products on the market, the availability of products that can be legally used in organic crop protection differs significantly among the Member States. There is a uniform list of 10 basic substances that can be used in the protection of organic crops throughout the entire EU. Twelve Member States have official registers of plant protection products for use in organic agriculture, and the total number of qualified products per country varies from 11 in Lithuania to 576 in Italy. Some products that improve plant vigour or resistance and may be of use in protection of organic crops are placed on the market as biostimulants. They fall under the law that governs fertilisers and the systems of their registration vary widely among the Member States. In addition, there exist a number of products that have been legally introduced onto the markets of some Member States without registration as a consequence of a loophole in the law. The use of unregistered products in organic agriculture raises some doubts, but currently it seems that there is no legal basis on which to explicitly prohibit the practice. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

A quantitative interpretation of the entry section of the EPPO decision‐support scheme for pest risk analysis

The development of methods to combine components of risk and their associated uncertainty in Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) has received attention in a number of recent European projects. Many of the risk components distinguished in the EPPO Decision‐support scheme (DSS) for PRA are usually difficult to quantify, but when there is detailed knowledge of the pest and pathway, quantification may be possible to a limited extent for the pest entry section of the scheme. The European Food Safety Authority has recently commissioned a project to investigate approaches to quantitative pathway analysis for pests of commodities entering and moving within the EU (QPA‐Food); a sister project concerns non‐food commodities. This paper illustrates the potential for a quantitative pathway model based closely on the Entry Section of the EPPO DSS for PRA, where existing quantitative definitions of rating categories have been used as a basis to estimate the proportion and number of infested lots on a pathway. Such quantification may provide additional insights without requiring substantial changes to the information elicited via the DSS.     

Pest risk assessment for the countries of the European Union (as PRA area) on Monilinia fructicola

A pest risk assessment was performed according to the EPPO Standard PM 5/3 to determine the probability of introduction of Monilinia fructicola into the countries of the European Union (EU) and its potential economic impact. Data on the biology of the pathogen were combined with trade pathways and information on the use of commodities in order to quantify risk. On the basis of the EPPO Standard, we concluded that there is a serious risk that M. fructicola could become established in the EU, with significant economic losses as a result. This justifies the phytosanitary measures currently in place in the EU.     

Economic justification for quarantine status – the case study of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in the European Union

International agreements on plant health and trade require that regulating a pest should be justified by economic impact assessment. Economic impact assessments are usually qualitative, weakening the objective and transparency of the regulation decision. This study assessed the potential economic impacts of the invasion of the plant pathogenic bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ into the European Union in order to economically justify a decision on its quarantine status. Direct economic impacts resulting from yield loss in potato and tomato were computed using partial budgeting at a regional scale, while total economic impacts on the potato and tomato markets were computed using partial equilibrium modelling at the EU scale. Annual direct impacts at the most likely infestation level were estimated at €222 m for the whole EU. Uncertainty analysis showed a distribution of foreseeable annual impacts with a 5th percentile of €192 m, and a 95th percentile of €512 m. Increased market prices of potato and tomato resulting from reduced supply were found to increase profits for non‐infested producers and to compensate in part for the production losses of infested producers, with consumers paying for this mitigation of impacts on producers. The expected negative impact on societal welfare at the most likely infestation level is less than the estimated direct impacts, viz. €114 m/year. The potential economic impacts of ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ in the European Union are demonstrably of major importance. Therefore, a decision to categorize this organism as a quarantine pest is supported.     

Detailing Köppen–Geiger climate zones at sub‐national to continental scale: a resource for pest risk analysis

The widely used Köppen–Geiger climate classification system can inform judgements of establishment during pest categorizations and systems of simplified pest risk assessment. Such processes allow national plant protection organizations to quickly identify plant pests of potential regulatory concern. Judging whether a pest can establish is a key factor in determining whether a pest satisfies the definition of a quarantine pest. Climate is often a significant factor influencing where species can establish. Here, we provide a resource that reports the Köppen–Geiger climate classification at a range of spatial scales from sub‐national to continental for the period 1986–2010 in an accessible table. The data is provided as a resource for pest risk analysis to inform and support rapid decision‐making. An online appendix is provided showing the number of grid cells in each of the 31 Köppen–Geiger climate types in 417 regions across the globe at country level or less. Thirteen climate types occur within the European Union (EU), the most common is ‘temperate oceanic’ occupying 48% of EU grid cells. Twenty‐four of 31 climate types occur within the EPPO region; the most common is ‘continental, uniform precipitation with cold summer’, occupying 35% of EPPO grid cells.     

Bt maize and integrated pest management ‐ a European perspective

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), the Mediterranean corn borer (Sesamia nonagrioides) and the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) are the main arthropod pests in European maize production. Practised pest control includes chemical control, biological control and cultural control such as ploughing and crop rotation. A pest control option that is available since 1996 is maize varieties that are genetically engineered (GE) to produce insecticidal compounds. GE maize varieties available today express one or several genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that target corn borers or corn rootworms. Incentives to growing Bt maize are simplified farm operations, high pest control efficiency, improved grain quality and ecological benefits. Limitations include the risk of resistance evolution in target pest populations, risk of secondary pest outbreaks and increased administration to comply with licence agreements. Growers willing to plant Bt maize in the European Union (EU) often face the problem that authorisation is denied. Only one Bt maize transformation event (MON810) is currently authorised for commercial cultivation, and some national authorities have banned cultivation. Spain is the only EU member state where Bt maize adoption levels are currently delivering farm income gains near full potential levels. In an integrated pest management (IPM) context, Bt maize can be regarded as a preventive (host plant resistance) or a responsive pest control measure. In any case, Bt maize is a highly specific tool that efficiently controls the main pests and allows combination with other preventive or responsive measures to solve other agricultural problems including those with secondary pests. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Common vole (Microtus arvalis) ecology and management: implications for risk assessment of plant protection products

Common voles (Microtus arvalis) are common small mammals in some European landscapes. They can be a major rodent pest in European agriculture and they are also a representative generic focal small herbivorous mammal species used in risk assessment for plant protection products. In this paper, common vole population dynamics, habitat and food preferences, pest potential and use of the common vole as a model small wild mammal species in the risk assessment process are reviewed. Common voles are a component of agroecosystems in many parts of Europe, inhabiting agricultural areas (secondary habitats) when the carrying capacity of primary grassland habitats is exceeded. Colonisation of secondary habitats occurs during multiannual outbreaks, when population sizes can exceed 1000 individuals ha^?1. In such cases, in‐crop common vole population control management has been practised to avoid significant crop damage. The species' status as a crop pest, high fecundity, resilience to disturbance and intermittent colonisation of crop habitats are important characteristics that should be reflected in risk assessment. Based on the information provided in the scientific literature, it seems justified to modify elements of the current risk assessment scheme for plant protection products, including the use of realistic food intake rates, reduced assessment factors or the use of alternativee focal rodent species in particular European regions. Some of these adjustments are already being applied in some EU member states. Therefore, it seems reasonable consistently to apply such pragmatic and realistic approaches in risk assessments for plant protection products across the EU. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Legislative measures to prevent the introduction and spread of Ralstonia solanacearum in the European Union1

Since the outbreaks of potato brown rot (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in EU Member States in the mid 1990s, EU measures against this pest have been strengthened. Factors in the spread of R. solanacearum are reviewed: planting material, Solanaceous weeds, water, soil, waste, machinery and equipment. The Control Directive of 1998 aims to prevent spread and ensure eradication. It provides for the establishment of a demarcated zone whenever the pest is found, for measures to prevent spread from this zone and for measures to eliminate the pest within the zone.     

Nematodes network too: diversity,abundance and dispersal via plant produce trade networks

The dispersal of invasive species, such as plant pests, can have major economic, environmental and social impacts worldwide. Movement of plant pests from farms to both foreign and domestic markets is facilitated by trade networks, such as plant produce trade networks. While many potential pathways of invasive plant pest entry are regulated, few studies have examined the diversity, abundance and dispersal of soil microorganisms, such as nematodes, on plant produce while en route between origin and destination to quantify the risk of invasive plant pest introductions via these pathways. Here it is shown that a large range and number of live nematodes are dispersing locally and nationally via plant produce trade networks, with the potential to also move internationally. Up to 98% of samples tested carried free‐living nematodes and up to 40% carried plant‐parasitic forms. Diversity of nematodes varied between countries and regions, and numbers on samples generally decreased with increasing distance from the farm to market. These findings may have implications for plant biosecurity surveillance as well as human health. Moreover, nematodes provide a model for other potentially invasive species dispersing via plant produce trade networks.     

Report of a rapid pest risk analysis for Lambdina fiscellaria (Guenée, [1858]) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) for the island of Ireland

The hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria (Guenée), is a serious forest pest in North America with three subspecies that vary in their geographical range and larval host preferences. Both broadleaved and coniferous trees are infested, though the largest impacts are on coniferous forestry where trees can be completely defoliated and killed. The pest was identified as a potential threat to forestry on the island of Ireland during a horizon‐scanning exercise to identify pests of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. (Sitka spruce) and was subject to a rapid pest risk analysis (PRA). Though judged to be unlikely, pathways identified were uncontrolled wood commodities and mosses and lichens harvested from forests in North America and exported for use in ornamental displays. Lambdina fiscellaria is found in a range of climate types, and is likely to be able to complete its lifecycle in the Irish climate – although there is uncertainty concerning its ability to adapt to European trees. Lambdina fiscellaria has only a limited capacity for spread, as virgin females are burdened by their eggs and are poor fliers. This was judged to reduce potential impacts in the PRA area – as the slow rate of spread would provide time to develop monitoring and control methods well ahead of the pest reaching its maximum extent on the island of Ireland. The pest still poses a considerable risk to coniferous forestry not only on the island of Ireland but across the EPPO region where climate is suitable for the pest to establish. Regulation and implementation of phytosanitary measures prevent introduction of the pest should be considered.     

Identification of new pests likely to be introduced into Europe with the fruit trade

Global trade of plants and plant products facilitates the international movement of pests. The introduction of new pests in an area may have huge economic consequences for local plant production, and should be avoided. The European Union (EU) imports large quantities of fresh fruit from all over the world, which could be a pathway for exotic pests. This review aimed to identify pests not yet present or regulated in the EU that may enter the territory with the fruit trade and damage fruit production in Europe. Pests of Vaccinium (blueberry), apple, grape, orange and mandarin were screened to assess the likelihood of their being associated with these fruit, their impact, their geographical distribution, whether they are intercepted in trade and whether they are spreading or emerging. They were further ranked to produce alert lists of 30 to 36 pests for each fruit species. These lists are presented as well as other findings on contaminants and newly introduced pests. Datasheets on those pests were prepared and are available as supporting information to this article as well as in the EPPO Global Database ( https://gd.eppo.int/ ). This work within the EU project DROPSA aimed to raise the awareness of importers and regulatory authorities to the potential risk of introducing pests with the fruit trade.     

Importing plants into the Netherlands: an assessment of the risk of plant parasitic nematodes and a survey on their entry with adhering soil

Few plant parasitic nematodes are currently included in the European Union (EU) regulated pest lists. However, many plant parasitic nematodes not present in the EU are known to be damaging and present a risk to Europe. Therefore a study was performed to assess the risk of importing plant parasitic nematodes with the soil attached to plants for planting, with emphasis on plants in pots. Prior to the survey, a list of harmful plant parasitic nematodes not present within Europe was prepared per continent based on a literature review. This resulted in a Risk List of 26 species. Additionally, over a 3‐year period a survey was carried out on plants for planting imported to the Netherlands with adhering soil, focusing on all plant parasitic nematodes and with special attention to the nematodes on the Risk List. A total of 258 soil samples were studied, originating from 54 different plant species and 20 different countries. Despite the small number of samples, several quarantine nematodes and species from the Risk List were detected, including new nematode–plant combinations. This survey illustrates that plants with adhering soil can be a pathway for the introduction of listed nematodes, including those from the Risk List, to the EU/EPPO region. This information might encourage a more risk‐based approach to performing import inspections.     

有害生物随水果类产品传入的风险评估方法

本文研究了澳大利亚进口新西兰苹果风险分析报告,阐述其分析有害生物进入的过程及计算方法的数学模型。文中分别就有害生物随产品到达口岸的可能性、病害类有害生物随产品被消费者丢弃可能性、病害类有害生物接触寄主可能性及发生可能性,进行了详细的分析并列出计算方法,为风险分析工作提供技术帮助。     

Pest risk analysis of rice root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) for the Italian territory

Meloidogyne graminicola is one of the most harmful organisms associated with rice cultivation throughout the world. Until recently, M. graminicola was present only in Asia, parts of the Americas, Madagascar and South Africa. In 2016, it was detected for the first time in mainland Europe (Northern Italy) and subsequently added to the EPPO Alert List. In this study, the risk posed by this nematode to rice in Italy was assessed using an internationally developed pest risk analysis scheme. In the risk assessment section, information about biology, pathways for entry, the likelihood of establishment, spread and negative impact of M. graminicola are reviewed. Internationally, its spread is more likely through the movement of infested host plants, soil or growing medium and non-host plant parts that may have growing medium attached, from areas where this nematode occurs. Migrant waterbirds, machinery and travellers were also considered as possible pathways for entry. The probability of establishment is very likely due to the suitable environmental conditions and the large range of host plant species present in Italy. This and the nematodes’ ability to survive for long periods in low oxygen environments make the control of M. graminicola very difficult.     

Beyond compliance: project on an integrated systems approach for pest risk management in South East Asia

The Beyond Compliance project, which began in July 2011 with funding from the Standards and Trade Development Facility for 2 years, aims to enhance competency and confidence in the South East Asian sub‐region by applying a Systems Approach for pest risk management. The Systems Approach involves the use of integrated measures, at least two of which are independent, that cumulatively reduce the risk of introducing exotic pests through trade. Although useful in circumstances where single measures are inappropriate or unavailable, the Systems Approach is inherently more complicated than single‐measure approaches, which may inhibit its uptake. The project methodology is to take prototype decision‐support tools, such as Control Point‐Bayesian Networks (CP‐BN), developed in recent plant health initiatives in other regions, including the European PRATIQUE project, and to refine them within this sub‐regional context. Case studies of high‐priority potential agricultural trade will be conducted by National Plant Protection Organizations of participating South East Asian countries in trials of the tools, before further modifications. Longer term outcomes may include: more robust pest risk management in the region (for exports and imports); greater inclusion of stakeholders in development of pest risk management plans; increased confidence in trade negotiations; and new opportunities for trade.     

Risk maps for targeting exotic plant pest detection programs in the United States

In the United States, pest risk maps are used by the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey for spatial and temporal targeting of exotic plant pest detection programs. Methods are described to create standardized host distribution, climate and pathway risk maps for the top nationally ranked exotic pest targets. Two examples are provided to illustrate the risk mapping process: late wilt of corn (Harpophora maydis) and the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica). Host risk maps were made from county‐level crop census and USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis data, respectively. Climate risk maps were made using the North Carolina State University–USDA APHIS Plant Pest Forecasting System (NAPPFAST), which uses a web‐based graphical user interface to link climatic and geographic databases with interactive templates for biological modelling. Pathway risk maps were made using freight flow allocation data sets to move commodities from 7 world regions to 3162 US urban areas. A new aggregation technique based on the Pareto dominance principle was used to integrate maps of host abundance, climate and pathway risks into a single decision support product. The maps are publicly available online ( http://www.nappfast.org ). Key recommendations to improve the risk maps and their delivery systems are discussed.     

Phytosanitary measures in the European Union: a call for more dynamic risk management allowing more focus on real pest risksCase study: Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) on ornamental Solanaceae in Europe

After fifteen years of harmonisation of phytosanitary measures in the European Union, today's legislation has become increasingly stagnant, complex and detailed. The recent finding of Potato spindle tuber viroid in ornamental plants in the Netherlands and other Member States illustrates the struggle to take prompt emergency measures when specific knowledge is not available. It is proposed that the European Commission should take the initiative to organise the process of pest risk analysis from beginning to end. In addition, the Commission should have budgets at their disposal for instantaneous research to generate the required data and fill in knowledge gaps. Such policy enables evaluation of emergency measures and implementation of permanent requirements on the basis of scientific data within a short period, thereby creating a dynamic legislation that focuses on real pest risks.     

Q‐bank,a database with information for identification of plant quarantine plant pest and diseases

This paper describes the database Q‐bank ( www.q-bank.eu ). This freely accessible database contains data on plant pathogenic quarantine organisms to allow fast and reliable identification. Development of accurate identification tools for plant pests is vital to support European Plant Health Policies. Council Directive 2000 ? 29 ?EC lists approximately 300 entries representing a large number of species (e.g. non‐European Tephritids contains approximately 3500 species) for which protective measures, against introduction and their spread within the European Community, need to be taken. The risk of introduction of pests into the European Union is increasing because of the increase in the volumes, commodity types and origins of trade, the introduction of new crops, the continued expansion of the EU, the numbers of international travellers and the impact of climate change. Identifying pests (in particular new emerging pests) requires staff with specialised skills in all disciplines (mycology, bacteriology etc.), which is only possible within large centralised laboratory facilities. Expertise in taxonomy, phytopathology and other fields in plant health, which are vital for sustaining sound public policy on phytosanitary issues, are under threat. Sharing knowledge on regulated and non‐regulated pests is necessary to manage a cost‐effective and efficient plant health system in the context of expanding globalisation of trade in plant material.     

PQ—the EPPO data base on plant quarantine pests

PQ is a relational data base, in dBase IV, composed of files PESTFILE (of plant pest names), HOSTFILE (of host plant names), GEOGFILE (of names of countries and geographical areas), GEOGLINK (of relationships between geographical entities), PQATTACK (of host/pest combinations) and PQOCCUR (of country/pest combinations). It holds all the relevant information from EPPO data sheets on quarantine organisms, together with equivalent information from FAO and from other Regional Plant Protection Organizations, whose data bases are of the same origin and fully compatible with PQ. PQR is a menu-driven on-screen system for consulting the data base, to be made available to Member Governments as a compiled run-time version. Other EPPO systems (for fruit-tree viruses, for the European Handbook of Plant Diseases, for intercepted consignments) also use the central files PESTFILE, HOSTFILE and GEOGFILE.     

Direct and host‐mediated interactions between Fusarium pathogens and herbivorous arthropods in cereals

Fusarium head blight and fusarium ear rot diseases of cereal crops are significant global problems, causing yield and grain quality losses and accumulation of harmful mycotoxins. Safety limits have been set by the European Commission for several Fusarium‐produced mycotoxins; mitigating the risk of breaching these limits is of great importance to crop producers as part of an integrated approach to disease management. This review examines current knowledge regarding the role of arthropods in disease epidemiology. In the field, diseased host plants are likely to interact with arthropods that may substantially impact the disease by influencing spread or condition of the shared host. For example, disease progress by Fusarium graminearum can be doubled if wheat plants are aphid‐infested. Arthropods have been implicated in disease epidemiology in several cases and the evidence ranges from observed correlations between arthropod infestation and increased disease severity and mycotoxin accumulation, to experimental evidence for arthropod infestation causing heightened pathogen prevalence in hosts. Fusarium pathogens differ in spore production and impact on host volatile chemistry, which influences their suitability for arthropod dispersal. Herbivores may allow secondary fungal infection after wounding a plant or they may alter host susceptibility by inducing changes in plant defence pathways. Post‐harvest, during storage, arthropods may also interact with Fusarium pathogens, with instances of fungivory and altered behaviour by arthropods towards volatile chemicals from infected grain. Host‐mediated indirect pathogen–arthropod interactions are discussed alongside a comprehensive review of evidence for direct interactions where arthropods act as vectors for inoculum.