A diverse group of experts from various organizations attended a two-day workshop on horizon scanning, including representatives from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO), CABI, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). The workshop aimed to explore general concepts of horizon scanning and allow participants to share their experiences in the context of biological invasions. Tools and methods related to horizon scanning were discussed, with the overall objective of creating an international community of experts and risk assessors to enhance plant health horizon scanning efforts.
In December 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) received its first mandate on horizon scanning for plant health from the European Commission. Since then, EFSA has been working with the JRC and ANSES to systematically screen scientific literature and media sources to identify signals of new, emerging, or recurring pests that may pose a threat to the EU territory. The findings are published in a monthly newsletter in the EFSA Journal, which is shared with the European Commission and Member State plant health authorities to enhance the EU’s readiness to address emerging plant health risks. Additionally, EFSA’s Horizon Scanning Dashboard provides these findings online in an interactive format for easy access.
