EUPHRESCO

Basic Information

Description

Statutory plant pests and diseases can cause serious economic and environmental damage in Europe. Although the legislation that underpins phytosanitary (plant health) policy for these statutory pests and diseases is determined at the EU level, the research that supports policy development and implementation is primarily done at the national level and is currently uncoordinated. An ERA-Net (EUPHRESCO) is therefore proposed for research policy development and implementation in the field of statutory and emerging plant pests, diseases and invasive species (but not: GMO's). The proposal has the full support of the EC Council Working Party of Chief Officers of Plant Health Services, EC DG SANCO, the EC Standing Committee of Agricultural Research and EPPO, who recognise the need to optimise national phytosanitary research budgets and prevent the progressive erosion of phytosanitary science expertise; this is in an era of increasing threats from quarantine pests, pathogens and invasive species due to globalisation of trade, EU enlargement and climate change. EUPHRESCO will draw together, for the first time, national research programmes to better serve the needs of EU phytosanitary science and policy. EUPHRESCO has Partners from 14 Member States and 3 Associated States; it represents all of the key national phytosanitary research funders within the EU context. EUPHRESCO will achieve its objectives through an ambitious step-wise approach, as follows: - Map, analyse and share information on national phytosanitary research programmes. - Establish proven instruments for procuring, managing and appraising trans-national phytosanitary research activities. - Develop common research agendas based on shared priorities for developing and implementing a joint programme at the end of the ERA-Net. - Establish a long-term, sustainable network that will strategically facilitate joint trans-national activities to underpin EU phytosanitary policy and science capacity.