La introducción accidental de plagas vegetales en nuevas áreas puede tener, en determinadas circunstancias, graves repercusiones socioeconómicas. La historia pasada y reciente está repleta de ejemplos que ilustran las desastrosas consecuencias de la introducción de plagas exóticas invasoras en la región euromediterránea: desde la introducción en el pasado del tizón tardío de la papa (Phytophthora infestans), el escarabajo de Colorado (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) y el fuego bacteriano (Erwinia amylovora) hasta las introducciones más recientes de Tuta absoluta, Drosophila suzukii o Xylella fastidiosa. Con frecuencia, el motivo de estas introducciones no está claro, aunque se reconoce que las actividades humanas son en gran parte responsables de las mismas. En concreto, es muy probable que tanto la intensificación y diversificación del comercio internacional de plantas y productos vegetales como las modificaciones del medio ambiente desempeñen un papel importante al respecto.
In the context of producing more with less, it is essential to prevent the appearance of new pests. Accidental introductions of invasive alien pest are clearly a challenge for all actors involved in plant health at national level and also require active international cooperation. EPPO is the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization and one of its main missions is to prevent the entry and spread of pests presenting a risk to agriculture, forestry, and the environment. EPPO has been working since 1951 to identify potential risks at the earliest possible moment and to recommend mitigation measures to its member countries.
The accidental introduction of plant pests into new areas can be followed under certain circumstances by severe socio-economic impacts. Past and recent history is full of examples illustrating the disastrous consequences of the introduction of invasive alien pests into the Euro-Mediterranean region, from the past introductions of potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans), Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), fireblight (Erwinia amylovora), to the more recent introductions of Tuta absoluta, Drosophila suzukii, or Xylella fastidiosa. The causes of these introductions often remain unclear, but it is accepted that human activities are largely responsible for them. In particular, the intensification and diversification of the international trade of plants and plant products, as well as the modifications of the environment, are most probably playing a key role.
