Grow Learn Autumn School: Engaging Portuguese Farmers on Quarantine Bacteria and the POMATO Project

On 25 November 2025, Food4Sustainability (F4S) contributed to the Grow Learn: Autumn School, an online training initiative organized together with EIT Food, by delivering a dedicated lecture for Portuguese farmers.

The session, presented by Natalia Sierra, was delivered in Portuguese (with slides in English) and gathered around 70 participants.

Why this topic matters

Plant health threats can have major impacts on farm productivity and market access, especially when they involve quarantine bacteria, which are strictly regulated due to their potential to spread quickly and cause severe losses. For growers, understanding what these pathogens are, how they behave, and what can be done to limit risk is essential for both prevention and rapid response.

What the lecture covered

The lecture highlighted two bacterial pathogens that pose significant phytosanitary and economic risks for potato and tomato production:

• Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), associated with bacterial wilt

• Clavibacter sepedonicus (Cs), associated with ring rot

Both are listed as quarantine pests under EU rules and are also included in the EPPO A2 list.

Impacts and why rapid action is essential

Participants discussed how severe the consequences of these diseases can be – ranging from major yield losses to indirect impacts linked to restrictions, movement controls, and production limitations. The presentation shared indicative figures showing that impacts can be extremely high in affected situations, underlining the urgency of prevention and effective management.

Eradication measures: no “quick fix”

A key takeaway for growers is that, once plants are infected, there is no direct chemical or biological cure. Standard approaches rely on official control measures such as:

• establishing demarcated areas (infested + buffer zones),

• destroying infected material through approved methods,

• and planting restrictions, including multi-year prohibitions on susceptible hosts in affected areas.

Introducing POMATO: information and farmer recruitment

A central part of the lecture was dedicated to presenting the POMATO project: its objectives, why it matters for growers, and how farmers can get involved. The session aimed to both disseminate project information and actively recruit farmers to participate in POMATO activities.

F4S will contribute in Portugal to disease detection approaches in tomato crops, using non-invasive technologies supported by drone multispectral imagery and satellite monitoring. The project is also looking to connect with stakeholders – especially Portuguese producers – to understand needs and support participation in project activities and testing opportunities.

This lecture was a strong example of how targeted online training can help bridge research and innovation with real farm needs – supporting awareness, prevention, and collaboration around high-impact plant health threats.

Farmers interested in participating in POMATO are warmly encouraged to reach out to the project team and stay connected for upcoming opportunities.