Research project Biological characterization of plant viruses: Integrating economic information to support efficient and reliable pest risk analysis
General introduction
The field of plant virology is evolving at a rapid pace. The VIRCOIN project aims to prioritize which newly discovered viruses—due to their potential harmfulness—should be investigated first. The goal is therefore to assess the cost-effectiveness of virus characterization when a discovery (new virus species, new host, or new distribution area for known species) could have implications for Belgium, using the “Value for Money” concept.
The large-scale application of high-throughput sequencing technologies in plant health has led to an unprecedented pace of new discoveries in the field of plant viruses: including new virus species, new hosts, and new distribution areas for known plant viruses. Due to this large number, it is impossible to fully assess the biological significance and the impact on plant health, especially given the limited financial resources. ULiège recently published a framework for the biological characterization of newly discovered viruses. In VIRCOIN, this framework is supplemented with information on costs and timing, and the two remaining weaknesses are addressed through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates plant pathology and economic sciences.
Research approach
The costs associated with determining the biological significance and risks of new virus discoveries will be analyzed in detail. First, the economic framework for biological characterization will be validated, with cost items identified through steps such as bioassays and surveys. The time and resources required for 20 cost items will also be assessed. Some items are grouped based on biological characteristics, given the diversity of viruses. The goal is to simplify decision-making when additional scientific data is needed to assess the risk of a new discovery (species, host, region) and subsequently manage the risk through regional surveillance. The “Time Driven Activity Based Costing” (TDABC) methodology is applied. This methodology relies on expert judgment to estimate costs and the time required based on various scenarios and case studies.
Relevance/Valorization
The ultimate goal—and indeed the relevance of VIRCOIN—is to provide a user-friendly toolbox that can be used to estimate costs for research and/or diagnostic laboratories and for agencies responsible for territorial surveillance. It is important that this toolbox be made publicly available, including internationally, to promote informed decision-making based on economic and biological information.
Financing
FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de voedselketen en Leefmilieu
