POMATO M6 General Assembly: Milestones Aligned, Next Steps Set
On October 27–28, 2025, the POMATO consortium convened online for the M6 General Assembly, bringing together all partners to review progress, align on priorities, and plan the next phase of work across the project.
The meeting opened with a welcome and a succinct overview of achievements since the Kick-off, reaffirming POMATO’s mission to safeguard potato and tomato production against Clavibacter sepedonicus (Cs) and Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) through early detection, robust IPM strategies, and nature-based solutions.
Day 1 focused on technical advances and integration.
Partners presented updates from WP2 (pathogen characterisation, resistance sources, and predisposing factors), WP3 (early detection and surveillance tools), and WP4 (natural and biocontrol solutions). Each session covered progress, next steps, and risk watch-points, ensuring a coherent pipeline from scientific evidence to tools and solutions ready for validation.
Day 2 shifted to field validation and uptake.
WP5 outlined the plan for IPM validation in real conditions, SSbD integration, and the pathway to policy recommendations. WP6 reviewed communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities, confirming that D6.1 (DEC Plan) is finalised for submission and that the Multi-Actor Participatory Platform (MAPP) formally launches by M18 with content intake from all WPs. WP1 closed the technical blocks with project management, DMP status, reporting cadence, and risk management. The Assembly concluded with coordination across WPs and a look ahead to M12 GA and First POMATO Open Day.
What’s next
Maintain milestone tracking and risk logs across WP2–WP5.
Prepare logistics and contributions for the M12 GA + Open Day.
With two productive afternoons of focused discussion, the consortium leaves M6 aligned on objectives and concrete actions, ready to advance POMATO’s scientific, technical, and stakeholder-facing work in the months ahead.
