The Government launched its new Plant Health Biosecurity Strategy last week which aims to help protect crops from the introduction of new pests and diseases into Ireland.

The strategy comes a month ahead of EU law changes which include increased regulation for the trading and movement of plants.

The strategy launched by the Department of Agriculture only deals with pests and diseases, with no mention of alien plant species.

It mainly targets the horticulture and forestry sectors, but it can be used to address all plant threats.

Serious consequences

While there are many examples of pests and diseases that had serious consequences for these sectors in the past (Dutch elm and ash die-back diseases being two examples), new threats are not just confined to these.

Speaking at the strategy’s launch, Anne Marie Dillon from the Department gave a number of examples of potential new threats, one of which relates to grassland as well as golf courses. A pest called root knot nematode, Meloidogyne fallax, is already present in much of northwest Europe, including Britain. It is a direct threat to pasture, a range of arable crops, protected crops and sports turf. The nematode now poses a threat for the island of Ireland.