First detected in Africa in 2016, Western Asia in 2019, and mainland Europe in 2023, the polyphagous fall armyworm (FAW) poses a significant threat to European agriculture. Since 2019, it has been classified as a priority pest in the EU, due to its high potential for establishment and spread, particularly in the context of global warming and increased trade both within and beyond EU borders. Current pest management practices involve the use of insecticides in maize cultivation. However, as the pest problem has intensified, pesticide use has surged to unprecedented levels, raising serious concerns about human health and environmental impacts.

Horizon Europe-funded project EUFAWREADY is here to address this challenge. The project seeks to enhance the readiness of European agricultural stakeholders, such as farmers, advisors, technicians, industry professionals, and plant health authorities, for potential FAW outbreaks. It will provide tools for early detection and effective management of FAW within the EU, aiming to minimise its economic, environmental, and social impacts, while limiting the expected increase in synthetic pesticide use across European agroecosystems.

EUFAWREADY held its kick-off meeting in Montpellier, France, on 17-18 June. The two-day event brought together 25 project partners across a variety of sectors, including academia, the private sector, social sciences, and plant health services.

Led by project coordinator Anne-Nathalie Volkoff (INRAE), the event featured sessions from European Commission (EC) representatives on the EC’s expectations, as well as the administrative rules and policy context of the project. Partners discussed Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation in a session led by Pensoft Publishers, followed by brief presentations from all Work Packages. Sessions also covered stakeholder engagement and the IPM Toolbox development for effective FAW management. Workshops were conducted in order to get partners to get to know each other across WPs and plan their activities for the first six months of the project. As collaboration is a fundamental pillar of a successful project, some time was also set aside for ice-breaking activities where partners could mingle and learn more about each other.

The two-day event was a great opportunity for the consortium to establish a good working relationship, laying the foundation for years of collaboration to come.

Just one month after its kick-off meeting, EUFAWREADY is already inviting you to get involved! The project’s first survey has officially been launched, and we need your input. The survey is designed to collect stakeholders’ current level of awareness, needs, expectations and potential involvement. Your feedback will help the partners tailor tools and information to real needs, build stronger collaboration and work towards practical solutions. The survey is currently only available in English but translations will be launched at a later date.

Stay up to date with EUFAWREADY by following the project on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and YouTube.

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Funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101212676, EUFAWREADY (Enhancing Europe's readiness for managing fall armyworm, an invasive pest threat). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the EU nor REA can be held responsible for them.