Europe in the dark over plant diseases

More fundamental research on plant diseases is needed to protect European citizens and ecosystems, national science academies have warned.

Easac, the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council, has issued a report calling for more work to further this field. There is not enough understanding of plant disease and disease resistance to adequately protect crops, forests and wider ecosystems, they say.

In an announcement accompanying the report, Easac said that the European Commission has plans to upgrade existing protective measures. However, there needs to be more far-reaching action across member states to prevent plant diseases from developing and spreading, the academies warn.