As pest and disease pressures rise across Europe, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) Alert List serves as a critical early warning system for emerging threats to crops, forests, and ecosystems. The February 2025 update spotlights several new and rapidly spreading organisms with the potential to cause significant economic and environmental damage. This article highlights the top five pests and pathogens currently considered the greatest risks to EU agriculture, explains why they matter now, and provides actionable steps farmers can take to protect their crops.
Top 5 Major Pests and Pathogens in 2025
1. Clavibacter nebraskensis (Goss’s wilt)
- Location/Spread: Recently detected in maize fields in several EU regions, with prior outbreaks in North America and a new alert from South Africa.
- Problem: This bacterial disease causes leaf blight and can result in yield losses of up to 50% in susceptible maize varieties, especially under warm, humid conditions. It spreads via wind-driven rain, contaminated equipment, crop residues, and potentially seed.
- Farmer Actions: Rotate crops, thoroughly sanitize equipment, monitor fields for leaf lesions, and promptly remove infected residues to limit spread.
Cover picture credits: CABI Digital Library
2. Austropuccinia psidii (Myrtle rust)
- Location/Spread: Affecting Myrtaceae species such as eucalyptus and guava; recently reported in new parts of the EPPO region.
- Problem: This fungus causes leaf spots, dieback, and tree mortality, threatening both commercial forestry and native ecosystems.
- Farmer Actions: Remove and destroy infected plants, avoid moving host material, and apply fungicides preventively during periods of high risk.
Picture by: Invasive Species Counci
3. Pseudips mexicanus (Bark beetle)
- Location/Spread: Invasive in pine forests, with new incursions in Europe.
- Problem: Aggressive tunneling and fungal associations result in rapid pine tree mortality and economic losses for forestry.
- Farmer Actions: Inspect imported and local wood for signs of infestation, deploy pheromone traps, and promptly clear and destroy infested trees.
4. Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Beech leaf disease)
- Location/Spread: Spreading from North America, now a risk for European beech forests.
- Problem: This nematode causes leaf deformation, canopy decline, and can lead to tree death.
- Farmer Actions: Avoid moving beech plants or wood from affected areas, and report any symptoms to plant health authorities for rapid response.
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Picture by: Invasive.org
5. Atherigona orientalis (Oriental latrine fly)
- Location/Spread: Expanding in Mediterranean regions, affecting solanaceous crops like tomatoes and peppers.
- Problem: Larvae damage fruits and seedlings, reducing yields and marketability.
- Farmer Actions: Use insect nets, apply biological control agents, and monitor crops with traps to detect early infestations.
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New Xylella fastidiosa Host Plants and Detection Advances
On February 25, 2025, EFSA updated the Xylella fastidiosa host plant database, identifying 12 new susceptible species, including the Cantabrian mountain oak (Quercus orocantabrica) in Portugal and confirming new outbreaks in grapes, almonds, and other crops in Italy’s Apulia region. These findings underscore the pathogen’s ongoing adaptation and spread in Mediterranean agriculture. Notably, EPPO laboratories have validated a rapid tetraplex qPCR assay capable of distinguishing Xylella subspecies in under two hours, enabling faster and more targeted containment efforts.
What Farmers Should Do:
Growers of olives, grapes, almonds, and susceptible ornamentals should intensify monitoring for symptoms and test irrigation water monthly with validated kits. Removing known host weeds and using physical barriers or kaolin-based sprays to deter insect vectors (like Philaenus spumarius) are recommended. Early detection and swift removal of infected plants remain critical to slowing the spread.
Conclusion
The landscape of plant health threats in Europe is rapidly evolving, with new pests and pathogens challenging traditional management strategies. By staying informed about the latest EPPO alerts and EFSA research, and by adopting rigorous monitoring and prevention measures, farmers and foresters can help protect their crops, livelihoods, and the broader environment from these emerging risks.
Source: Find the full EPPO Alert List
Further reading
Pest, Disease and Weed Management
Citrus Greening and Its Management in Citrus Trees
Effective Fruit Fly Management: Lifecycle, Damage, and Pheromone-Based Control
The Growing Impact of Climate Change on Insect Populations
Integrated Pest (Disease & Weed) Management (IPM): Principles, Practices and Advantages
A Traditional Treatment for Crop Health and Pest Management
Plant - Insect Relation: Plant Defense Mechanisms against Insect Pests
Cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi): The most crucial cherry tree pest
