“The CoNEF Project (National Coordination for Phytosanitary Emergency):

a Network of Agronomists and Foresters Expert in Plant Defense All Together to Form an " Emergency Agency " for

Phytosanitary Problems.

Enrico Antignati, dottore agronomoConsiglio dell’Ordine Nazionale dei dottori Agronomi e dei dottori Forestali (C.O.N.A.F.)

Extra areal distribution

International trade development and increasing of touristic flows led to the spread of many pests outside their area of origin.

During last decades, in Europe and in Italy, we have seen the introduction and diffusion of exotic pests, due to favorable environmental conditions, especially due to the absence of natural enemies. Those kind of pests has generated a veritable explosion causing a lot of economical and environmental damages.

Examples: Anoplophora spp.

Their potential impact on urban areas was estimated at approximately 96 million of euro per/every major city in Europe (source EPPO).

Examples: Tuta absoluta

It was estimated that the introduction of Tuta absoluta in many EPPO member countries has a cost of between 1.4 and 3.4 billion Euros per year (source EPPO).

Potential phytosanitary emergency

In Europe today 364 potentially harmful organisms are present ( bacteria, fungi, insects, mites, invasive alien plants, nematodes and viruses). This organisms are included in Lists of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests .

Are only examples of a phenomenon of larger dimensions that in some cases assumes the contours of a real emergency phytosanitary.

European and Mediterranean Plant Protection OrganizationIn Europe the cooperation in plant protection is entrusted to Eppo (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) that act on the FAO International Plant Protection Convention.

Italian phytosanitary authority In Italy, the protection against introduction and spread of organisms harmful to plants or plant products, is entrusted to the National Plant Protection Service (SFN):•Central Plant Protection Service, which operates within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry•21 plant protection services of the Italian Regions (SFR)

Vulnerability of Italy

Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Dryocosmus kuriphilus

Population dynamics

It is imperative the continuous monitoring of the area in order to make possible early detection of the first outbreaks of infection, prior to their dissemination.

The infestations are characterized by an initial lag phase, in which the expansion of the parasite / pathogen on the territory is relatively slow, followed by a phase of explosion, in which the rhythm of growth of colonization process is exponential.

“The CoNEF project”

The National Council of Agronomists and Foresters of Italy (CONAF), with the aim of providing practical help dealing with the serious situation of pest risk in our country, started in 2012

“The CoNEF project”(National Coordination for Phytosanitary Emergency)

CoNEF: what is it?The Co.N.E.F. is a network of Agronomist and Forester specialized in Phytoiatry that, during the activities of their usual profession in the field of plant protection, in the forests, nurseries, farms, urban, voluntarily make their skills and competences available to the community….

……. an "Emergency Agency " against phytosanitary emergency.

The main objectives of CoNEF (1) • Support Services phytosanitary monitoring on the territory of the presence of parasites / pathogens in order to prevent its spread, promptly reporting attendance, pre-proposals and actions to be taken.

• To provide its support to the creation of a Geographic Information System contains information on the presence of parasites / pathogens associated with emergency phytosanitary measures, in order to have a tool for monitoring and evaluation of the geographical distribution of emergency situations.

The main objectives of CoNEF (2) • Providing collaboration on plant protection services for the development and delivery of information activities, training and communication.

•Facilitating exchange of ideas, experiences and knowledge among the members of the Coordination, Plant Protection Services and other actors involved in the phytoiatric defense

•Provide collaboration in plant protection services, public bodies and private research institutions in the field phytoiatric for design, application, analysis and evaluation of experimental protocols designed to test the efficacy of different therapeutic procedures..

Web portal

http://servizioconef.conaf.it.

Web portal areas

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Web portal

Georeferenced Map

In this way we can have a nearly real-time mapping of reports on the presence of

phytosanitary emergencies in the country

Sustainable use of pesticides

CoNEF, as a means of prevention, is a tool for a sustainable use of pesticides

Thanks for your attention