New pests and diseases pose a large and growing threat to many of our most valued plants, including potatoes, cereal crops and trees. As these plants underpin large parts of our economy and environment, it is of vital importance that we take action to minimise the risk of importing new problems, work towards building a more resilient landscape, and are prepared to handle outbreaks when they happen.

To address plant health issues important to Scotland, the Scottish Government has funded a new Plant Heath Centre that brings together expertise from across Scotland and the UK. The Centre was officially launched at a stakeholder event at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in April. Importantly, the Centre includes experts in a range of different fields and institutions, meaning problems can be rapidly tackled with a diverse set of skills and knowledge.

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