“Plant health is essential for functioning ecosystems and safe food. It is therefore an indispensable part of our One Health approach. When plants are damaged, this affects not only agriculture but, in the long term, the environment, the economy and the health of humans and animals. As AGES, it is our task to identify risks at an early stage and to pass on this knowledge in a way that is applicable in everyday life. After all, sustainable plant protection can only succeed if many people contribute their ideas and get involved,” says Johannes Pleiner Duxneuner, Managing Director of AGES.
The example of the Japanese beetle illustrates what such risks to plant health might look like in practice. This introduced pest can cause considerable damage to fruit, vegetables, vines, ornamental plants and green spaces. To identify new sightings quickly, AGES provides a simple online reporting platform. Members of the public can use it to report suspicious beetles and upload photos. Every report helps to detect a possible outbreak at an early stage and prevent further spread. In this way, everyone can make a small contribution to protecting plants, crops and our environment.