PATAFEST Project

PATAFEST’s goal is to reduce the risk of introducing and spreading emerging potato pests that could endanger European agriculture and lower the presence of soil-borne pathogens in potato post-harvest activities. The main concept is structured around the EU's agricultural research and innovation strategy, notably the set of initiatives aimed at "Priority 2: healthier plants". The project is dedicated to developing sustainable and systemic IPM strategies to address the issue of pathogens, and as an alternative to the use of pesticides. Subsequently, PATAFEST is fully in accordance with the actions of the “Agriculture and the Green Deal”, since it promotes the adoption of a long-term IPM by potato professionals in order to achieve a healthy and sustainable food system for all.

The project will follow a multi-actor approach, defined by the involvement of a range of actors to ensure that knowledge and needs from various sectors such as research, plant health services and the farming/forestry sector are brought together. Moreover, citizen science will be used as a tool to monitor emerging potato threats and collect scientific data from the general public. PATAFESTs main outcome is to increase the information of the molecular and biological potato RGs and ecological analysis of its pest and vector. Additionally, it aims to provide long-term sustainable potato pest and postharvest diseases integrated management, including prevention, early detection and surveillance strategies.