Protecting the UK’s potatoes from the Colorado beetle

Calling on gardeners, allotment owners and the general public to look out for the Colorado beetle – a plant pest that poses a major threat to the UK’s food security.
Calling on gardeners, allotment owners and the general public to look out for the Colorado beetle – a plant pest that poses a major threat to the UK’s food security.
Genomics enhances plant disease management by enabling early detection and real-time tracking. APHA-led scientists, in collaboration with key organisations, in the GAP-DC collaborate to monitor invasive pathogens, improving proactive disease control across animals, plants, and ecosystems.
An increase in online plant sales has brought an increased threat of plant pests and diseases. Dan Munro, Senior Technical Manager for Plant Passporting at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), explains what APHA, as part of the United Kingdom (UK) Plant Health Service, is doing to reduce these risks.
Invasive non-native species harm the environment, cost the economy almost £2 billion per year, and can even harm our health. Emma Brand from the Non-Native Species Inspectorate tells us about her work in this important area.
For the first time in the UK since 1977, Colorado beetle was confirmed in a potato crop in Kent in July last year. If not eradicated, Colorado beetle pose a major threat to potato crops. Discover what APHA are doing in response and how you can help.
Observatree uses citizen science to help spot pest and disease threats to UK trees. Learn more about the first 10 years of Observatree, from APHA’s Jane Barbrook.
Once established, invasive non-native species can threaten biodiversity and can be extremely costly and difficult to control. APHA Director of Science Transformation, Jenny Stewart and Lucy Cornwell from the GB Non-native Species Secretariat are sharing some of the ways that everyone can help.
Learn more about how climate change is responsible for changes in nature’s calendar, the rise of plant pathogens and pests and what APHA are doing to protect the UK border, from one of Defra’s Plant Health Scientists, Dominic Eyre.
An increase in online plant sales has brought an increased threat of plant pests and diseases. Dan Munro, Senior Technical Manager for Plant Passporting at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), explains what we are doing to reduce these risks.
No matter what the weather has in store for them, Plant Health and Seed Inspectors Laura Chapman and Natalie Vallone have an important job to do. Learn about their roles in our second and final blog to mark Plant Health Week 2020.
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