5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa: science drives progress towards sustainable management
The 5th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa concluded today in Mola di Bari, Italy, confirming that research on one of the world's most damaging plant pathogens has reached a new level of maturity. Concrete results are now emerging about olive resistance, biological control, vectorA carrier of a disease-causing agent from an infected individual to a non-infected individual or its food or environment; for example, mosquitoes carrying malaria parasites management, and surveillance that can directly inform policy and on-the-ground management.
The three-day conference brought together around 400 researchers, policymakers and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond. It was organised by EFSA in collaboration with the Horizon Europe project BeXyl, the research network EUPHRESCO III, the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), the Italian National Research Council - Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (CNR IPSP), and the Regional Plant Health Service, Puglia Region.
Building on more than a decade of research since Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca was first identified as the cause of the olive quick decline syndrome that devastated Apulia's ancient olive groves, the conference took stock of scientific progress and charted the path ahead.
Sessions covered olive host resistance, advances in biological and integrated control, vector biology and management, epidemiological modelling, surveillance, Pierce's disease of grapevines, and the social and economic dimensions of the epidemicA widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time, including the lived experience of communities and farmers in affected regions.
The first dedicated session on olive resistance to Xylella fastidiosa was a significant milestone for this edition of the conference, reflecting the growing body of results from the collective efforts of EU Horizon, EFSA and Member State-funded research to advance scientific understanding and develop practical solutions.
Research presented at the conference covered the genomic and molecular basis of resistance in olive cultivars, long-term field studies of cultivar responses, and novel approaches including genomeThe entire amount of genetic material found in the cells of living organisms editing and microbiome analysis. These point to a pipeline of tools that could underpin the regeneration of olive cultivation in affected areas.
Giuseppe Stancanelli, Plant Health Risk AssessmentA specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation Team Leader, EFSA: “This conference has once again demonstrated the strength and breadth of the scientific community working on Xylella fastidiosa. By combining scientific excellence with practical solutions, we are improving our ability to prevent, detect and manage Xylella fastidiosa outbreaks while supporting sustainable agriculture.”
Blanca Landa, Spanish Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (IAS CSIC), scientific co-chair: “The diversity and quality of the research presented in Bari show how far the scientific community has advanced in understanding Xylella fastidiosa. Continued collaboration across disciplines and countries remains essential to transform knowledge into effective management strategies.”
Alongside the main conference, a roundtable of plant health services from Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal reviewed more than a decade of EU policy implementation under the Xylella regulatory framework. Field visits to areas affected by the bacterium in Apulia offered participants first-hand insight into ongoing eradication, containment, and olive industry regeneration efforts.
What’s next
In the coming weeks, EFSA will launch a public consultation on the latency and incubation period of Xylella fastidiosa, alongside a call for data on pestA living organism (e.g. an insect, rodent, weed, fungus or virus) that is harmful to plants and/or their products (e.g. seeds, fruits)occurrenceThe fact or frequency of something (e.g. a disease or deficiency in a population) happening to support climate suitability assessments. Stakeholders and the scientific community will be invited to contribute.
By the end of 2026, EFSA will publish an updated pest risk assessment for Xylella fastidiosa in the EU, building on its 2019 scientific opinionOpinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment and incorporating the latest evidence generated in recent years.
About Xylella fastidiosa
Xylella fastidiosa is a plant-pathogenic bacterium transmitted by sap-feeding insects and capable of infecting hundreds of plant speciesA subdivision of the genus, a species is a group of closely related and similar-looking organisms; for example, in the case of Homo sapiens (humans), the second part of the name (sapiens) represents the species. In Europe, X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca has caused devastating losses to olive production in Apulia, southern Italy, while other subspecies pose threats to grapevines, almonds, ornamental plants, and forest species. It is classified as a quarantine priority pest under EU plant health legislation.