How can botanical gardens support cutting-edge plant health research and bridge the gap between scientists and the public? In our latest interview recorded during the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Lara Salido (Botanic Gardens Conservation International - BGCI, WP9 Co-Leader and Coordinator of the International Plant Sentinel Network) highlights the unique role botanic gardens play in the fight against Xylella fastidiosa. WP9 demonstrates how diverse global stakeholders contribute to disease surveillance and public awareness: Global Sentinel Network: Leveraging curated, highly documented living collections in botanic gardens across Europe, Central, and South America to sample plants and map plant-pathogen relationships under standardized protocols. Early Warning Capacity: Utilizing the global network as an early warning system to identify potential host vulnerabilities before pathogens spread to new regions. Education & Public Awareness: Serving as active outreach hubs that connect scientific research directly with citizens through tailored educational kits on biosecurity and plant health. Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrating how large research consortia can effectively integrate scientific, institutional, and public-facing partners into a unified plant protection strategy. Watch the full interview to learn how global botanical networks are helping safeguard plant health. #BeXyl #XylellaFastidiosa #PlantHealth @IAS_CSIC @REA_research @bgci

How do we measure the broader consequences of Xylella fastidiosa beyond crop damage alone? In our latest interview recorded during the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Harry Marshall (Forestry Commission Research Agency, Acting WP8 Leader) outlines how Work Package 8 evaluates the social, ecological, economic, and policy dimensions of the pathogen and its management across Europe. WP8 integrates multidisciplinary research to guide holistic decision-making: Policy Analysis: Mapping and analyzing how different European countries have structured their regulatory and containment responses to Xylella fastidiosa. Social Dynamics & Stakeholder Preferences: Examining public and farmer attitudes toward disease management to align control strategies with community expectations and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. Ecological Impact Assessment: Evaluating the environmental effects of both the disease and containment measures—revealing, for example, how strict eradication protocols in almond orchards can negatively affect soil health. Economic Modeling: Comparing management scenarios with and without IPM, demonstrating that integrated management minimizes yield losses while reflecting strong preferences from both growers and citizens. As WP8 findings demonstrate, a one-size-fits-all approach to managing Xylella fastidiosa cannot succeed. Effective long-term control requires balancing social, economic, ecological, and policy factors across all affected and at-risk regions. Watch the full interview to learn more about shaping sustainable plant health policies. #BeXyl #XylellaFastidiosa #PlantHealth @REA_research @IAS_CSIC

How can we bridge scientific research and real-world field management to combat Xylella fastidiosa across Europe? In our latest interview recorded during the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Gianni Gilioli (University of Brescia, WP7 Leader) outlines how Work Package 7 is converting experimental knowledge into concrete tools that mitigate the impacts of the disease. WP7 integrates findings across multiple disciplines to support decision-makers, growers, and public authorities: • Predictive Modeling & Risk Assessment: Utilizing mathematical models to evaluate risks and forecast system dynamics, helping managers optimize the timing and location of interventions. • Cultivar Resistance & Disease Containment: Testing resistant olive cultivars in Apulia to reduce disease progression and limit bacterial spread both within individual plants and across affected areas. • Integrated Biological Control: Evaluating soil-applied entomopathogenic fungi against vectors, alongside innovative tools like bacteriophages, synthetic peptides, and bacterial consortia. • Decision Support System (DSS): Synthesizing project-wide knowledge into a web-based, open-access Decision Support System. This tool provides tailored Integrated Pest Management (IPM) schemes—covering prevention, intervention, and monitoring—to help users choose the most effective strategy for their specific local conditions. Watch the full interview to learn how data and technology are turning scientific evidence into actionable management tools. @REA_research @IAS_CSIC @unibs_official

Can beneficial bacteria, plant peptides, and viruses protect crops against Xylella? 🦠🌿⚡ In our latest interview, Emilio Montesinos (Univ. of Girona) presents the breakthroughs of BeXyl’s Work Package 6! WP6 is pioneering non-antibiotic, sustainable tools for plant protection: 🦠 Bacterial Consortia: Inoculants for self-protecting plants. 🌿 Botanical Extracts: Natural Eucalyptus oil compounds. 🧬 Synthetic Peptides: Defense-boosting and antibacterial proteins. 🧫 Bacteriophages: Natural viruses attacking Xylella. Currently undergoing field trials in Mallorca & Bari, these tools aim to deliver self-protected nursery plants for a more resilient future! 🌾 Watch the full interview for details! 🎥👇 #BeXyl #Xylella #PlantPathology @IAS_CSIC @REA_research @univgirona

¿Qué opinas sobre cómo se está gestionando Xylella fastidiosa? El proyecto europeo BeXyl quiere escuchar tanto al sector como a la ciudadanía. Encuesta anónima, 15–20 min. No hace falta ser experto. 👉 forms.office.com/e/WxsfCYVAX… #Xylella #BEXYL #Xylella #BEXYL #SanidadVegetal #Olivar #Agricultura #CienciaCiudadana

How can we protect European crops from Xylella fastidiosa while reducing reliance on chemical treatments? 🌿🔬 In this double interview recorded at the BeXyl meeting in Bari, Domenico Bosco (University of Turin, WP5 Leader) and Enrique Quesada-Moraga (University of Córdoba, WP5 Co-Leader) share the major achievements of Work Package 5. WP5 focuses on environmentally and economically sound solutions to control insect vectors and disrupt disease transmission through innovative, nature-backed tools: 🧫 Entomopathogenic Fungi: Testing native fungal strains from olive groves against vector nymphs and adults. 🌱 Endophytic Action: Using fungi inside plants to disrupt vector feeding behavior and transmission. 🦟 Biological Control: Exploring native natural enemies, egg parasitoids, and insect viruses. 🌾 Ground Cover Management: Evaluating plant species to naturally lower vector densities in orchards. Watch the full interview to learn more! 🎥👇 #BeXyl #XylellaFastidiosa #VectorControl @REA_research @IAS_CSIC @unito #universidaddecordoba

Over the course of the BeXyl project, we listened to the candid voices of growers on the front lines of Xylella fastidiosa. Why focus on plant nurseries? Because nurseries supply the plants that feed our fields, orchards, and gardens. Protecting them is the first line of defense against disease spread across regions! 🛡️ In this video from our field visit in Girona (Catalonia, Spain), Mateu Terradas (Agricultural Engineer at Vivers Planas Púbol) shares the daily concerns of Catalan nurseries near cross-border containment zones in France. He shares their worries and highlights their expectations for collaborative solutions between science and local governments. 🎥 Watch the interview to listen to the direct expectations and concerns of those working on the ground! 👇 #BeXyl #Xylella #PlantNurseries @REA_research @IAS_CSIC

Can resistant plants safeguard the future of European agriculture against Xylella fastidiosa? 🌿🧬🛡️ This interview features Ofir Bahar (Volcani Institute / ARO, Israel) explaining how BeXyl's Work Package 4 is leveraging genomics and breeding to combat plant disease. In this video, Ofir highlights how WP4 is turning genetic resistance into a powerful long-term solution: Identifying Resistant Cultivars: Searching for new resistant varieties in olives, almonds, and other host crops—building on proven cases like the Leccino olive cultivar in Italy. 🌳 Genomics-Assisted Breeding: Utilizing advanced genomic tools to screen germplasm and accelerate the development of new, resilient crop varieties. 🧬 Global Impact: Developing resistant plants to give farmers effective tools to manage outbreaks across Europe and beyond. 🌍🌾 Watch the video to learn how science and genetic innovation are helping build a more resilient future for agriculture! 🎥👇 #BeXyl #Xylella #PlantHealth #Genomics @rea_research @IAS_CSIC

Science-based solutions to protect Europe’s crops and landscapes from Xylella fastidiosa! 🌿🇪🇺 Read the opinion piece on Euractiv showcasing the main achievements of the BeXyl project: 🔍 Advanced surveillance & early detection 🧬 Resistant crop varieties & genomics 🛡️ Thermal sanitation for nurseries 🌡️ Climate impact modeling Read the full article on Euractiv 👇 euractiv.com/opinion/bexyl-s… @REA_research @IAS_CSIC

BeXyl Work Package leaders share key research achievements and solutions developed over 4 years to fight Xylella fastidiosa across Europe. In this interview, we caught up with Pierfederico La Notte (CNR-IPSP, Italy) and Josep M. Pagès (ENA), leaders of BeXyl's Work Package 3. They explain how WP3 has turned thermal sanitation into a practical solution for the nursery sector. @CNRsocial_ @EPPOnews @REA_research @IAS_CSIC

How can we stop Xylella fastidiosa before the plants even show symptoms? 🐕✈️🔍 At our final meeting in Bari, we caught up with Antonio Vicent (IVIA, Spain), coordinator of BeXyl's Work Package 2. In this video, Antonio explains how WP2 is transforming plant health surveillance from reactive to proactive: Smarter Diagnostics: Detecting the bacterium at the subspecies level directly from plant tissue—skipping the slow process of isolating it in axenic media! 🧬 Eyes in the Sky: Using thermal, hyperspectral, and RGB imaging from airplanes to spot infections before they are visible to the human eye. ✈️📸 Super Sniffers: Deploying trained dogs (canine olfactory detection) to sniff out Xylella in nurseries and at border inspections. 🐕🌱 Data-Driven Policy: Designing advanced statistical models to help authorities, EPPO, and EFSA map and contain outbreaks with maximum efficiency. 📊🇪🇺 Watch the interview to see how cutting-edge technology and early detection are protecting European agriculture! 🎥👇 #BeXyl #Xylella #EarlyDetection #PlantHealth @REA_research @ias_csic @GVAivia @EFSA_EU @Plants_EFSA @EPPOnews @avicent_agr

How will climate change affect the spread of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe? 🌡️🍂 At our final meeting in Bari, we caught up with @janavascortes - @IAS_CSIC, leader of BeXyl's Work Package 1. In this video, Juan explains how WP1 is mapping the future of plant health: - Tracking new bacterial variants globally 🌎 - Testing crop vulnerability under biosecurity conditions 🛡️ - Tracing the origins of EU outbreaks using genomics 🧬 - Simulating climate change scenarios to protect future harvests 🍇 Watch the interview to see how we are going "beyond Xylella"! 👇 @REA_research #BeXyl #Xylella #PlantPathology