Joint EFSA-EPPO Workshop: Modelling in Plant Health – how can models support risk assessment of plant pests and decision-making?

EFSA and the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) held a joint workshop on Modelling in plant health – how can models support risk assessment of plant pests and decision-making? 

The risk assessment of plant pests is based on estimating their potential to enter the risk assessment area, to establish there, to spread and to have an impact. Models on pathways, spatial distribution and potential abundance of pests in the risk assessment area can support risk assessment and the development and evaluation of management schemes. Models can also be used to estimate the impact of plant pests on crop yield and quality as well as on the environment.

The main objective of this workshop was to explore the application of models in plant health risk assessment and how risk assessment models may support decision-making in plant health.

The workshop included presentations from keynote speakers and participants, as well as poster sessions. Risk assessors and risk managers had the opportunity to express their point of views on modelling in plant health for the European Union and globally.

Workshop themes

• Modelling tools in plant health
  • Models for quantitative pathway analysis and establishment.
  • Models for spread and impact.
  • Quantitative risk assessment models and databases.

• Challenges of modelling in plant health
  • Models supporting risk management.
  • Models to optimise control.

Who attended

This workshop was aimed at scientific and technical experts on risk assessment, plant health risk managers and stakeholders – for example, from national plant protection organisations (NPPOs), national and international risk assessment bodies, international organisations, research institutes, agriculture extension services etc – or anyone interested in or with expertise in modelling in the context of plant health.

Approximately 150 scientists and stakeholders from 41 countries attended this workshop.

Documents

• Final programme
• Book of abstracts

Presentations

• Posters
• 1^st session: Status of modelling in risk assessment and across the world
• 2^nd session: Quantitative pathway models in practise
• 3^rd session: Approaches to model entry and spread
• 4^th session: Approaches to model pest establishment
• 5^th session: Approaches to model impact and control
• 6^th session: Models for pest prioritization
• 7^th session: New modelling tools in Plant Health
• Conclusive session