Unseen arrivals: tracking tomorrow’s pests today

By Dimitra Fourkalidou | Head of Communications | reframe.food 

A recent review of pests in major agricultural and horticultural crops in Finland highlights how quickly the pest landscape can change. In 2011, species such as the barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), thrips like Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella intonsa, and several new fungal pathogens were considered potential threats. Today, they are firmly established in Finnish fields and greenhouses, causing yield losses and requiring new control measures. At the same time, pests that were not previously on the radar, including certain cereal pathogens and invasive weeds, are now emerging as problems [1].

The study attributes these shifts largely to climate change and changing farming practices. Warmer winters and longer growing seasons allow pests to survive further north, while new crops create fresh opportunities for infestation. These drivers mirror global patterns. According to the FAO, climate change is expected to intensify the spread, invasion, and range shifts of plant pests worldwide, particularly in temperate and cooler regions where warmer conditions allow survival and expansion [2]. Global trade and transport amplify these risks, moving organisms across borders faster than ever before [2].

For farmers and policymakers, the lesson is clear: pest pressure is dynamic, not static. Anticipating risks and acting early has never been more important.

This is where STELLA comes in. The Sistema di Sorveglianza dei patogeni STELLA (PSS) is designed to:

• Deliver early warning through IoT sensors and forecasting models.
• Enable detection with smart traps, remote sensing, and citizen science tools.
• Support response by mapping outbreaks and guiding phytosanitary measures.

Through six use case pilots in arable crops, orchards, vineyards, and forests across Europe (and in New Zealand), STELLA is testing technologies that can detect not only known pests but also the unexpected “unseen arrivals” that climate and trade are making more common.

The Finnish example is a timely reminder: vigilance and innovation are essential. With tools like STELLA, Europe can build resilience, safeguard food security, and protect plant health against shifting pest threats.

Sources

[1] Peltonen-Sainio, P., & Hannukkala, A. (2024). A revision of emergent pests in major agricultural and horticultural crops in Finland. Agricultural and Food Science.
[2] FAO (2021). Scientific review of the impact of climate change on plant pests: A global challenge to prevent and mitigate plant-pest risks in agriculture, forestry and ecosystems. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Credits for the featured photo: Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash