Fungal biodiversity as an overlooked pillar of protected area effectiveness

HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-02

Tackling pesticide resistance: early detection, management strategies, and foresight

Full description of the envisaged project

The project addresses the escalating challenge of pesticide resistance by establishing an integrated early-warning and foresight framework that combines pathogen collections, phenotypic and molecular resistance screening, and predictive risk modelling across diverse cropping systems and climatic regions. Pesticide resistance increasingly threatens crop protection, environmental sustainability and food security, demanding coordinated and evidence-based responses aligned with the EU Farm-to-Fork strategy.

Building on existing, well-characterised pathogen collections, the project will systematically assess sensitivity to key pesticide active ingredients, identify resistance mechanisms, and analyse spatial and temporal resistance trends. Phenotypic bioassays will be complemented by molecular analyses to link resistance profiles with underlying genetic changes, enabling robust early detection of emerging resistance.

Resistance data will be integrated with information on crop management practices, pesticide use patterns and climatic variables to develop risk assessment and foresight tools. These tools will support scenario analysis and forecasting of resistance evolution under different management strategies and climate change pathways, providing a scientific basis for improved decision-making.

Close collaboration with advisory services, farmer networks and policy stakeholders will ensure effective translation of results into practical resistance management strategies, including enhanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches and guidance for sustainable pesticide use. The project will directly contribute to reducing reliance on chemical inputs while safeguarding crop productivity and resilience in line with EU Farm-to-Fork objectives.

Indication of a possibly already existing (core) consortium

The envisaged core consortium includes applied agricultural research institutes, universities, plant pathology laboratories, and resistance monitoring or advisory networks with access to extensive pathogen collections and field data. Partners maintain strong links to farmers, extension services and policy actors, ensuring effective knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement and uptake of project outcomes at both regional and European levels.