6th YEAR 2017-2018
FINANCING BODY: Liguria Region
DURATION: 1st May 2017 - 31st October 2018
IRF ROLE: Coordinator
DESCRIPTION
Scope and objectives
The control and management of phytosanitary issues, on a national level, are based Italy’s adhesion, within the context of the World Trade Organization, to the International Convention for the Protection of Plants, signed under the patronage of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations since 1951. Since then, knowledge of phytopathogenic agents and applied phytosanitary legislation have allowed member states to prevent potential epidemiological risks of harmful phytosanitary organisms and to protect agricultural crops, while maintaining high quality standards. Given the increasing responsibility assumed by the Regions, through adhesion to community phytosanitary surveillance programme for regulated bodies, and the issuing of ever more detailed and specific guidelines for Member States, this project follows on from previous years and aims to strengthen the management of phytosanitary prevention.
With this project, therefore, the intention is to offer continuity with the previous five years, consolidating and expanding the collaboration between the Regional Institute for Floriculture (IRF) and the Regional Phytosanitary Sector (SFR).
The goal is to continue to preserve the Ligurian territory from the introduction of new pathogenic organisms, and to prevent their spread and contain them where their presence has been ascertained, through sustainable control systems that respect the environment.
Methodological approach
The project aims to consolidate the monitoring and diagnostic analyses network through the planning of territorial inspections and improvements in diagnostic methods, based on the guidelines available for regulated bodies. In particular, the intention is to:
Monitor the phytosanitary status of the various agricultural production activities (e.g. nursery activities, open field production, marketing) in the area;
Monitor phytosanitary status in public and forestry contexts;
Control the presence of regulated harmful organisms, through their identification and the application of indicated containment measures;
Strengthen existing monitoring networks and establish new networks;
Expand forest and open field monitoring in numerical and observed surface area terms;
Enhance phytopathological diagnostics for the identification of harmful organisms through the use of already standardized protocols, the development of ad hoc protocols and research into new investigation techniques, in synergy with qualified partners.
Results and impacts
It is expected, through the close collaboration of the IRF and the SFR, that monitoring and diagnostics aspects can be more fully integrated with research and projects concerning regulated bodies, territorial impacts and floriculture production activities.
In particular, the following results and impacts are expected:
The consolidation of the phytosanitary status management platform for the Ligurian territory, already effective for current needs, through the synergy of competences between the Regional Institute for Floriculture and the Regional Phytosanitary Sector;
The management and control of criticalities that threaten the territory;
A growth in monitoring and consequent phytopathological diagnoses;
The development of laboratory investigation techniques in keeping with the issuing of new European Plant Protection Organisation diagnostic protocols;
The in-depth study of certain particularly harmful organisms, in terms of their spread throughout the territory, diagnostic tests, the definition of control protocols and sustainable environmental management: Anoplophora chinensis / glabripennis, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Erwinia amylovora, Ralstonia solanacearum, Gibberella circinata, Globodera pallida, Globodera rostochiensis, Epitrix spp., Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Monochamus ssp., Plum pox virus, Ceratocystis platani, Phytophthora ramorum, Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae, Xylella fastidiosa, Golden Flavescence of the vine, and Citrus Tristeza Virus.
PARTNERS
Regional Institute for Floriculture (IRF), Italy
Liguria Region Phytosanitary Sector
STAFF INVOLVED
Margherita Beruto (Coordinator, beruto@reflor.it)
Salvatore Fascella (Technician)
Franco Crippa (Technician)
Cristina Scotto (Technician)
Monia Embriaco (Administration)
Sara Mazzei (Administration)