The aim of this project is to scope plant health and biosecurity training needs for Scottish plant and tree nurseries involved in plant supply and planting programmes. Concerns have been raised about the level of awareness with respect to what signs or symptoms constitute a sick plant and that there was room for improvement of biosecurity practices to reduce the risk of disease introduction and spread.

This project will assess the extent of training needs across the sector, identify which nurseries participate in quality schemes, evaluate existing training resources, and highlight gaps in information and training accessibility. It will also explore how training, both practical and online, could be better delivered, consolidated, and accessed by nurseries.

The outputs will include a detailed scoping analysis of current training provision, a mapping of unmet needs, and a set of recommendations for developing and implementing a targeted training plan. This initiative will support improved plant health practices, particularly in underrepresented nursery sectors, ultimately reducing the biosecurity risks associated with plant supply in Scotland.

Image of greenhouse by Uwe Driesel from Pixabay

The introduction and uptake of alternative crops in Scottish agricultural systems may bring opportunities to meet net-zero or biodiversity targets as well as enabling the diversification of rotations, improved soil health or access to alternative markets. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the potential plant health benefits/opportunities or, conversely, risks to plant health arising from the cultivation and exploitation of new and emerging novel crops in Scottish agriculture. Extended rotations may reduce plant health risks to other crops in the rotation, however risks could include the accidental importation of plant pests and pathogens, or very limited control options for known pest and pathogen problems associated with the crop in question.

A systematic framework for how to conduct risk/benefit analyses on emerging novel crops in Scotland would allow plant health risks and benefits to be considered before widespread uptake, and any mitigation strategies implemented at the earliest stage. Current and predicted examples of emerging crops in Scotland include hemp, rye, beet, flax, cover crops and novel legume and vegetable crops. Many of these examples are currently relatively low-input crops when it comes to the use of plant protection products but there may be parallels and lessons to be learnt from considering the uptake of crops, like oilseed rape or rye which are now well established in Scotland, but where pest and disease burdens have increased steadily from the point of introduction.

This project will create a systematic framework for the evaluation of plant health risks and benefits for emerging / novel crops in Scottish agriculture and will be suitable for use when considering the introduction of species in the natural environment, horticulture and forestry sectors.



Image Credit: HubertPhotographer from Pixabay