This project aimed to strengthen Scotland’s preparedness for current and emerging Phytophthora threats through improved horizon-scanning, risk assessment and decision-support tools. Phytophthora species pose a significant risk to agriculture, forestry, horticulture and native habitats, with 45 species already detected in Scotland and many more with global source regions that are connected to UK through trade pathways.

The project co-produced tools with cross-sector stakeholders to identify priority Phytophthora threats, enhance understanding of global source regions, and assess risks of arrival, establishment and spread. Key outputs included an interactive global database of Phytophthora hosts and distributions, a ranked list of threats to priority Scottish plants and habitats, and spatial risk models for high-risk species such as P. ramorum, P. × alni and P. pinifolia. These tools can support targeted surveillance, inform regulatory decisions and guide planting and restoration activities.

The report recommends retaining Phytophthora as a priority within the UK Plant Health Risk Register, strengthening cross-sector surveillance and research, enhancing spatial risk frameworks, and continuing collaborative co-design to ensure tools are credible, usable and aligned with policy and management needs in Scotland.