This week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is presenting the findings of their research projects on Xylella fastidiosa at the second scientific conference on ongoing research into this pathogen.
The conference, which was jointly organized by EFSA and is being held in the Corsican capital of Ajaccio, is affording participants the opportunity to learn about the latest international research on the topic and to find ways to collaborate.
The most recent research results on detection and surveillance, sustainable management strategies, insect vectors and more are being presented and discussed.
Earlier research released by EFSA and the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) just over two weeks ago, concluded that the estimated impact of Xylella is over €5.5 billion euros annually.
The researchers further found that Xylella — if it were to spread across the E.U. — could affect 70 percent of the Union’s production value of olive trees older than 30 years, and 35 percent of the younger trees. It has been estimated that this could put 300,000 jobs in the olive industry across Europe at risk.
Other E.U.-funded projects including Pests Organisms Threatening Europe (POnTE), XF-ACTORS, CURE-XF and EuroXanth are also participating in this week’s conference.
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