on project, DROPSA, has been commissioned to reduce the damage being done to European fruit produce by pests and pathogens.The threats posed by pests and pathogens are an ongoing challenge to the European fruit industry.
The EU-funded task force will investigate ways to combat this threat to fruit crops and will develop preventative strategies to lower the risk to crops.
The DROPSA project will run for the next four years.
It will focus in particular on the insect pest Drosophila suzukii – also known as the spotted winged Drosophila.
The insect can cause damage to soft and stonefruits.
The group will also look to ways of combating the damage by pathogens – known to cause leaf spots and bacterial specks.
Led by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), the project will also include involvement from 25 national and international partners.
The project launch meeting was attended by 40 scientists at Fera’s premises in York.
Experts from North America, China, Japan and New Zealand will work alongside their European counterparts to reduce the risks posed by pests and pathogens.
The innovative project brings together the very best expertise in integrated pest management of fruit pests and diseases, said Neil Audsley, insect endocrinologist at Fera and project leader.
“Working together, we are confident that the project will lead to ground-breaking solutions to minimise and prevent damage to fruit crops.”
He added, “The knowledge and information gained will be used to provide practical, cost-effective and sustainable solutions that can be widely implemented by the EU fruit industry.”
