Matt Elliot
Matt Elliot is the impact officer for Horticulture and the Natural Environment within the Plant Health Centre. He is a Plant Health and Biosecurity Scientist based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. Matt was previously the Tree Health Policy Officer for the Woodland Trust and worked as a plant pathologist at SASA and Forest Research. His PhD project was based on Phytophthora epidemiology and his experience includes epidemiology of plant pathogens, biosecurity, quantifying the impact of pests and diseases and vulnerability of native habitats to invasion. Matt has brought his expertise to deliver several previous PHC projects.
Projects
• Expert visitation of sites to seek evidence of problems with alder health, gain some understanding as to possible causes, and identify key dimensions of a thorough study should this prove warranted. Lab work to confirm field diagnoses.
• Preliminary citizen science request inviting site-specific records of concern over alder health (potentially via the trained Observatree volunteer network to gather data), with analysis to identify any geographic clustering.
• Produce recommendations for further work including; refined survey methodologies for widespread application by interested organisations; identification of potential candidate sites for detailed study over time, and; a discussion document on risks to existing alder of expansion of riparian woodland.
This work will examine and define the extent to which current UK and Scottish regulations and voluntary schemes control the way growing medium constituents must be treated prior to their inclusion in growing media, to generate an understanding around mitigating risks of spread of plant pathogens. Workshops with stakeholders will improve understanding of current practices and perceptions of alternative ‘best practice’ options for nurseries managing waste materials and for biosecurity risks of using reduced peat and peat-free growing media. A concurrent diagnostic study will identify Phytophthora species present in waste heaps from nurseries located in Scotland and the potential for these pathogens to spread into healthy plant stock either aerially or via water run-off and soil transfer.
Findings will be combined with a comprehensive desk-based study and feed into follow-up workshops on the development and introduction of ‘best practice’ guidance on the most appropriate and safest ways to manage waste growing media and plant material, to be built into the Plant Health Management Standard.
• How can important plant species in botanic collections and historic gardens be protected from inadvertent disease introduction on the footwear, etc. of visitors?
• What is the risk of further inadvertent spread from gardens into the natural environment?
• How can gardens, nurseries, farms and the natural environment be protected from pest and disease spread through the movement of large machinery (e.g., tree harvesting machines)?
Through a desk based study that incudes literature review, contact with plant health authorities, semi-structured interviews with landowners and expert practitioners from other sectors, the project will; determine what official biosecurity advice already exists and procedures are in place in Scotland; explore other sectors which provide additional novel approaches to biosecurity; and carry out a thorough assessment of what procedures are in place, or being considered and developed, in different countries/regions to address these specific biosecurity risks.
Publications
The impact of peat-free growing media and the emergence of sciarid flies (Sciaridae) as a pest or just a nuisance in Scotland
This study investigated the potential link between peat-free growing media and the emergence of sciarid flies (fungus gnats) as pests in Scotland.
The impact of agricultural policy reforms on plant health risks in Scotland: Guidance on maximizing plant health benefits
The project examines the potential impact Scotland’s upcoming agricultural reforms could have on plant health
Investigation into the causes of Alder (Alnus glutinosa) mortality in Scotland
The project investigated whether alders in Scotland have experienced a recent decline in health and identified factors affecting their condition. It also aimed to improve monitoring methods and address key issues for future management and regeneration of riparian alders.
Plant Biosecurity Resources – increasing the accessibility of notifiable plant pest information for Professional Operators
This project developed 39 pest-specific datasheets and a prototype webtool for Professional Operators to provide tailored pest information to use when issuing plant passports and support risk assessments for site operations.
Integration of Plant Health Planning Into the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
The impacts of introduced plant pests and diseases have been substantial in recent times. With a changing climate and many known pests on the horizon, plant health impacts on biodiversity are expected to grow further in the years ahead. Thus, considering the nature of plant health threats to the natural environment and embedding mitigating actions into biodiversity strategies is of increasing importance.
Potential of biocontrol for the sustainable management of plant diseases in Scotland: opportunities and barriers
Previous PHC projects identified biocontrol as a major element of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with a role to play in mitigating pesticide withdrawals. However, it is currently unclear how practical biocontrol is as a suitable alternative to pesticides in Scotland, what the opportunities are for deployment across different sectors and what barriers exist to uptake (including regulatory).
Biosecurity practices to support plant health: a review of knowledge and practice
This research investigated plant biosecurity risks from site visitors, tools & equipment, and large machinery. In addition to reviewing published guidance, UK businesses and organisations were engaged via questionnaires and interviews to explore how these aspects of biosecurity are understood and what procedures may be in place to address them.
Identifying the plant health risks associated with plant waste disposal and peat-free growing media and developing best practice guidance for waste disposal and composting across sectors
This research focussed on two areas of biosecurity that provide significant risk to plant businesses and the wider environment in Scotland, i) plant waste management, and ii) the constituents of reduced-peat and peat-free growing media.
A review of gene editing for the benefit of plant health
This report is the output of a call-down project that assesses the type of plant health problems in Scotland that GE could address, with potential benefits, barriers to deployment and dis-benefits noted.