EFSA: “Keep plants healthy and protect life

Plants are the backbone of life on earth: they provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. Today, plants are under enormous pressure from climate change and human activities such as trade and travel. Plant pests can cause significant economic and environmental losses. For example, the pest Xylella fastidiosa has killed millions of olive trees in the Puglia region of Italy and throughout southern Europe. Fortunately, such a dangerous plant pest does not yet occur in Hungary, but the disease that causes the golden yellowness of grapes makes life miserable for Hungarian grape growers.

“The health of plants is fundamental to our well-being and our environment. EFSA, the EC and Member States work together to protect the EU from plant pests and diseases. The #PlantHealth4Life campaign is a joint initiative that draws the public’s attention to plant health risks. By involving people across the EU, we strive to develop a collective responsibility for preserving the health of plants”

– said EFSA’s executive director, Bernhard Url.