BeXyl Project Advances Europe's Defence Against Xylella fastidiosa

The EU-funded BeXyl project, "Beyond Xylella, Integrated Management Strategies for Mitigating Xylella fastidiosa impact in Europe," presented its latest findings at the 5th European Conference on *Xylella fastidiosa* in Bari. This event, primarily organised by the European Food Safety Authority, showcased the project's progress in strengthening Europe's preparedness against the priority quarantine pathogen *Xylella fastidiosa*. The project involves 31 organisations and has a total cost of 7,089,069 EUR, with an EC maximum contribution of 6,674,782.75 EUR.

Launched on 2022-09-01 and scheduled to conclude on 2026-08-31, BeXyl was conceived to align with the new EU Plant Health Law, focusing on two key pillars of plant protection: prevention and control strategies for *Xylella fastidiosa*. Its workplan is designed to assess risks and provide interdisciplinary solutions demanded by stakeholders. Recent advancements cover early detection, surveillance, host resistance, vector control, and integrated management strategies, all crucial for protecting crops, landscapes, and biodiversity. These developments were highlighted in recent reporting by Euractiv.

The project directly responds to the HORIZON-CL6-2021-FARM2FORK-01-04 call, aiming to promote research and innovation by delivering specific impacts for expected outcomes related to farm-to-fork strategies. The comprehensive approach of BeXyl is vital, given the significant economic losses caused by *Xylella fastidiosa* in high-value crops such as olive, grapevine, almond, and blueberries, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin.

What this means: Continued investment in projects like BeXyl provides science-based tools and strategies essential for mitigating the impact of *Xylella fastidiosa*, safeguarding European agriculture and natural ecosystems.