Blog

FOREMOD project working/discussion papers online

http://forestresilience.net/publications/

Economics of invasive pests and diseases: a guide for policy makers and managers.N. Hanley, and M.F. Macpherson This paper was produced for the UNEP (Division of Environmental Policy Implementation) and a copy can be found here. 

The PROTREE tree health game is now available you are welcome to play it yourselves and to use it in any outreach and education activities.

Link to the game

link to Royal Botanic Gardens about the game 

Publicity in the Scotsman

PuRpOsE the THAPBI phase 3 project that will study Acute oak decline held its kick off meeting on 3 June 2016 at York University.

We wish the project every success.

See the new page on this web site that describes the background and objectives for this research project.

The new project "Global threats from Phytophthora spp.; understanding drivers of emergence and opportunities for mitigation through nursery best practice" held the first  meeting on 21st April 2016 at The Northern Research Northern Research Station at Roslin, Scotland 

Participants included project members, stakeholders and representatives and a wide range of people interested in tree health

The agenda included an overview of the work that had been proposed and discussion of the plan of the project future work plans and project management. 

 Further information will be included on this web site soon see http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/phytothreats

• Two new THAPBI phase 3 projects funded and announced on 10th March 2016:

These are:

• Global threats from Phytophthora spp.; understanding drivers of emergence and opportunities for mitigation through nursery best practice. Led by Dr Sarah Greene, Forest Research.

• PRotecting Oak Ecosystems: understanding and forecasting causes and consequences, management for future climates. (PuRpOsE ) Led by Dr Robert Jackson, University of Reading

Congratulations to Prof. Tariq Butt and all of the team that organized the meeting. This meeting included an impressive mix of representatives from a wide range of commercial, government, regulatory and research organizations.  

There were 52 excellent presentation over three days (7-9th September 2015) and a large poster session.

Session topics included:

• Biopesticides – new solutions for old problems

• Behaviour modifying chemicals – major players in future pest control programmes

• The agent is not all – new production and formulation strategies for biopesticides

• New pest control strategies – optimizing impact

• Specific control strategies for different crops – are there general lessons to be learnt?

• No risks of biocontrol strategies? Assessment and potential mitigation strategies

• Invasive threats - Predicting the future

• Workshop and Poster session. Workshop provides training and showcases products.

• Funding opportunities for business development and research

Networking session: opportunities to develop formal and informal collaborative links.

There was much discussion about the potential for new pests and diseases to affect the UK with increased travel and movement of plants and soil together with the effects of climate change. The difficulties with replicating the success of laboratory experiments in killing pests, in the field and also problems with the regulations for Biopesticides, their use and commercial production ready for market were also common themes.

We heard from several companies  that do have successful commercial products in addition to researchers investigating the specific biological mechanisms and environmental constraints on the use of biopesticide products.

The control organisms frequently mentioned included entomopathic fungi metarhizium  and beauveria species, while difficult to deal with pests included wireworms, aphids, fruit flies and moths.   The effects on food crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries and arable crops but attempts to control midges (of particular concern in Scotland) and other insects that carry human and animal diseases were also  described.

 Botanicals, such as essential oils, that act as a lure for insect pests or to repel them, look to be increasingly useful in the future. 

Jill Thompson

Social Science for Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Workshop to be held at Fera, Sand Hutton, York on 25th September 2015. (Invited participants only)

To include presentations and discussions about public risk perceptions, acceptability of potential genetic solutions to tree health, good practice in stakeholder engagement: lessons from technology development for early detection  and Dynamic social and cultural values of public tree landscapes - the influence of the management of pests and diseases.

If you are interested in these topics contact Urquhart, Julie <j.urquhart@imperial.ac.uk>

Annika Perry gave a presentation at Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions meeting

Can native Scots pine survive Dothistroma needle blight?

THAPBI mid term meeting in York  8-9 October 2015

THAPBI - for approved participants in mid term meeting please register now

www.yorkmarriott.co.uk <http://www.yorkmarriott.co.uk>

BIPESCO is holding a conference at Swansea University 6-9 September 2015 - everyone welcome

See information and to register

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/biosci/researchgroups/biocontrolandnaturalproductsgroup/banp/symposiuminformation/