Scotland’s soft fruit sector faces increasing threats from established and emerging pests and diseases, yet the information needed to assess and prioritise these risks is often fragmented across multiple sources and can be difficult for growers and advisors to apply in practice. This project developed a practical Pest Risk Assessment Methodology (PPRAM), using the Scottish soft fruit sector as a case study to demonstrate how pest threats, introduction pathways and mitigation measures can be systematically identified and assessed. Through literature review, stakeholder engagement and analysis of plant health risk data, the project highlighted key biosecurity challenges facing the sector and identified opportunities to improve preparedness for future pest incursions.

The project produced a user-focused framework that combines horizon scanning, pathway analysis, biosecurity planning and integrated pest management (IPM) considerations to support more proactive pest risk management. It also developed prototype pest factsheets for ten high-priority strawberry pests and diseases, providing concise information on identification, monitoring, pathways and control options. Findings emphasised the importance of stronger links between biosecurity and IPM, improved horizon scanning, greater collaboration between industry and plant health authorities, and more accessible pest information resources. While demonstrated in the soft fruit sector, the methodology is designed to be adaptable to other crops and industries, helping businesses strengthen biosecurity, improve preparedness for emerging threats and build resilience against future pest and disease outbreaks.

Image credit: Bunch of Strawberries by ZaiB Tse on Unsplash