Maria Lodovica Gullino Livres

Focusing on the social impact of plant diseases, this book highlights their historical significance and ongoing relevance in society. It explores how plant pathology has shaped economies and societies, referencing events like the 1845 potato late blight in Ireland, which led to famine and migration. The narrative underscores the critical role of plant pathologists in addressing these issues, emphasizing that plant diseases continue to cause silent suffering and economic challenges, particularly in developing nations.

This book is based on EU-funded project PLANTFOODSEC, covering intentional and unintentional threats to plant biosecurity and to food safety areas. Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach for analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment. Interest in biosecurity has risen considerably over the last decade in parallel with the increasing trade in food and plant and animal products; higher levels of international travel; new outbreaks of transboundary diseases. Although most diseases outbreaks have natural causes or are the result of inadvertent introductions of pathogens through human activities, the risk of a deliberate introduction of a high consequence plant pathogen cannot be excluded. Vigilance is required to identify, prevent and manage new and emerging issues that could impact on production capacity, plant biosecurity or food safety and food chain resilience.