National focus on meeting plant threats

Published on Wednesday 7 November 2007 00:14

THE Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) together with the devolved administrations, has published a new study into plant health threats throughout the UK to provide an evidence base against which future policies can be considered. The study, conducted by Imperial College, London, was jointly funded by the government and the industry.

The report looks to the future and identifies that the risk of new plant pests and diseases being introduced into the country is likely to increase with the impacts of climate change, globalisation of trade and travel, and the evolution of new diseases.

Commenting on the study, Jeff Rooker, the UK minister for sustainable food and farming and animal health, said: "The need to deal effectively with threats to horticulture, agriculture and the wider environment from plant pests is an ongoing challenge. This study recognises the good work and co-operation between government and the industry but underlines the need for increased partnership working to address these threats."

Speaking on behalf of the industry partners, Paul Temple, vice-president of the NFU of England and Wales, said: "This report is hugely important for the industry and a positive step forward. The prospects of UK growers being affected by plant health outbreaks is becoming more of a question of 'when not if' so it is vitally important the government and the industry work together.

"We welcome the call for greater co-operation and look forward to developing relationships to allow genuine sharing in the delivery of future quarantine plant health solutions."