NextGenBioPest is proud to announce its partnership with FORSAID, a groundbreaking Horizon Europe project focused on developing an innovative framework for the detection, monitoring, and management of key EU-regulated pests in European forests. This collaboration will bridge agricultural and forestry pest control practices, delivering shared solutions that enhance plant health and sustainability across diverse ecosystems.
A Common Vision for Sustainable Plant Protection
Both NextGenBioPest and FORSAID are driven by the urgent need to address the growing threats posed by invasive pests and pathogens to Europe’s ecosystems and agricultural sectors. By joining forces, the two initiatives aim to:
Leverage innovative technologies such as remote sensing, DNA barcoding, and AI modeling for pest detection and monitoring.
Promote stakeholder engagement across the agroforestry and agricultural sectors, ensuring actionable research outcomes.
Integrate socioeconomic insights to assess the feasibility and scalability of new pest control methods.
Develop a common pest control toolkit applicable across European forests and farmland.
Facilitate the wider dissemination of knowledge to halt the spread of harmful species and empower decision-makers.
A Holistic Approach to Pest Management
FORSAID’s research focuses on invasive species threatening Europe’s forest biomes, deploying cutting-edge tools such as satellite surveillance, drone monitoring, insect traps, and citizen science observations. Meanwhile, NextGenBioPest’s innovations in biological control agents, low-risk pesticides, and diagnostics for pest and pathogen identification complement this effort, offering tested solutions that can be adapted for forestry contexts.
The partnership will also prioritize stakeholder participation, ensuring that governance bodies, forestry managers, and farmers benefit from integrated, science-based strategies. Together, NextGenBioPest and FORSAID will explore how digital technologies and biological solutions can be harmonized to protect plant health while reducing environmental impact.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between NextGenBioPest and FORSAID is a pivotal step toward creating a unified framework for pest control that serves Europe’s agricultural and forestry sectors. By sharing expertise and resources, the two projects will strengthen Europe’s resilience against invasive species, contributing to the realization of the European Green Deal’s sustainability goals.