The challenge of providing plant pest diagnostic services for Africa

The consequences of a globalisation of trade and climate change present an increased threat from first-entry pests and a challenge to plant health authorities. In this paper, pest reporting for the continents of Africa and Europe are discussed, and argued as a barometer of effective Plant Pest Diagnostic Services (PPDS) in terms of human capacity, infrastructure and policy-culture for phytosanitary issues. To illustrate particular areas of concern, case studies are presented on recent pest events which include outbreaks of Ralstonia solanacearum on Pelargonium, Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum on banana (banana Xanthomonas wilt) and Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici race Ug99 on wheat (black stem rust). Examples are given of some recent initiatives to invigorate diagnostic capacity in East Africa, spanning state-of-the-art centres of excellence, traditional capacity building and networking projects, and grass-root level 'going-public' pest surveillance initiatives. Discussion is presented on the provision of PPDS and the impact of technology, institutional factors, the private sector, accreditation of services and policy. Emphasis is placed on the role of PPDS in support of regulatory policy. In recognising the precarious nature of many African cropping systems, the argument is made for a more consolidated approach to PPDS in and for Africa. The paper is presented from the perspective of European practitioners in pest diagnostic and risk analysis.