Horizon Europe: Fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption

Spodoptera frugiperda, also known as fall armyworm (FAW), is a transboundary, highly polyphagous plant pest with an exceptional migratory capacity, which can severely impact yields of several crops, such as maize, rice, vegetables and cotton. It is spreading fast worldwide and towards the Union territory. Its presence was officially confirmed in Cyprus in January 2023 and later in the year in Greece, Portugal and Romania. Furthermore, the number of non-compliance with Union legislation regarding the presence of the specified pest on imported commodities has remained high, and the number of plant species in which the specified pest is intercepted has been increasing. Therefore, measures were set to protect the Union from the pest. The rapid and recent global invasion of FAW has led to an important need for knowledge surrounding its risks for plant health and agriculture and effective management options, in particular in the EU. There is a need to set out a comprehensive package of research and innovation actions adapted to the EU agricultural systems and practices for managing the threat.