Source: European Parliament
The Commission places significant importance on investing in research and innovation to address plant health challenges, with EUR 189 million allocated over the past 4 years through Horizon Europe[1][2].
Plant health research and innovation, including the development of knowledge and tools to tackle plant pests, remains a priority in the future work programmes under Cluster 6[3] of Horizon Europe.
Cryphonectria parasitica is regulated in the EU as protected zone quarantine pest. Furthermore, the pest is regulated in the EU as Union regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) and as a result the propagating material specifically of Castanea sativa (chestnuts) introduced into or moved in the whole EU has to be free from the pest.
As Greece is not a protected zone, eradication of the pest is not a legal obligation and therefore no financial contribution from the Single Market Programme is provided for such measures.
However, the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan Regulation[4] offers Member States different possibilities to help farmers cope with pest infestations which may include support for investments, support in form of loans, guarantees and working capital, insurance schemes, cooperation projects and advisory services. I t is up to Member States to plan and implement such measures.
The EU Horizon Europe funded project AdvisoryNetPEST[5] will establish and upgrade a network of advisory services across the EU, increasing the knowledge sharing between advisors, and among the whole AKIS[6], promoting the adoption of innovative solutions on crop protection by farmers.
- [1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
- [2] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/e8a5772e-9fca-4583-a81b-649729068f1e_en
- [3] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/strategic-plan_en
- [4] Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013, OJ L 435/1, 6.12.2021.
- [5] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101134122
- [6] Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems.