Research project Strenghtening phytoasnitary research programming and collaboration: from European to global phytosanitary research coordination

General introduction

EUPHRESCO III takes the first steps toward global alignment of phytosanitary research (plant health research) for the purpose of controlling plant diseases and pests. Such control is under pressure due to global trade, increasing travel activities and climate change. The researchers believe it is possible to optimize strategies through more effective collaboration and coordination.
The success of the Euphresco network as a platform for coordinating European phytosanitary research has triggered thinking around the development of broader initiatives that meet the needs of other regions of the world and thus around some form of global coordination of phytosanitary research. The goal of the project is to improve national and regional coordination of phytosanitary research beyond what the self-sustaining Euphresco network has achieved.

Research approach

This will be achieved by building on the foundations developed by the Euphresco self-sustained network and explore fit-for-purpose activities. The objectives of the project are to:
- develop a strategic research agenda. The document will guide phytosanitary research programming activities of EU countries and support them to address regional and global challenges through synergies with other regions/continents of the world.
- organize joint calls on common research priorities to support and enhance international collaboration through the commissioning and implementation of research projects. Monitoring of the research projects will ensure that they remain relevant to the needs of the research funders and policy makers and impactful.
- develop and test models for the governance, the structure and the operation of a global network for phytosanitary research coordination. A business plan will be established to guide the development of a global network for phytosanitary research coordination.
- engage with relevant plant health research stakeholders and foster knowledge exchange, engagement in the project activities, co-development, dissemination and adoption of outputs.

Relevance/Valorization

The foundation for global coordination of phytosanitary research is being laid. National, regional and global phytosanitary research programs are better aligned with each other and with the research funding and policy making activities in the participating countries. The consortium delivers the identification of common research and innovation priorities, implementation of multiannual joint calls, which in turn result in the funding of transnational collaborative projects, the implementation of other joint activities supporting technology development, market introduction, regulatory aspects and societal uptake of results, and finally, the contribution to participating states meeting Global Challenges, including relevant contributions to the SDGs.