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Growing risk? The potential impact of plant disease on land use and the UK rural economy

  • Start date: 01 September 2007
  • End date: 28 February 2011

United Kingdom crop production and the natural environment are vulnerable to the introduction of plant diseases. The overall aim of this project is to develop a critical, inter-disciplinary appraisal of the potential impacts of plant diseases (on food and non-food species) on land use and the UK rural economy.

This will be achieved through:

  • The assessment of the likely occurrence of a catastrophic plant disease outbreak in major UK crops over the next 10-15 years 
  • An examination of the routes of transmission and epidemic foci of emerging or changing plant diseases specific to food and non-food plants through normal trade activity and natural transmission.
  • An examination of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of specific plant diseases on selected rural communities in the UK, including an assessment of alternative management strategies on individual stakeholders and community behaviour.

Overall, the project will provide a generic framework for taking a holistic approach to risk analysis, regulation and governance for plant diseases and scenario planning to inform the national response to catastrophic plant disease epidemics.

Findings from this project will be communicated through media channels (including film) in addition to conventional publications and appropriate events.

Grant holder

Professor Peter Mills

Programme name

None

Co - applicants

Dr Stephane Pietravalle

Dr Steve Parker

Dr Alan MacLeod

Professor Michael Jeger

Mrs ESTHER KASAMBA

Dr Glyn Jones

Professor Brian ILBERY

Mr Francisco Areal

Dr Damian Maye

Grant amount

£877,183.53

Grant reference

RES-229-25-0013

Institution

University of Warwick

Discipline

Area & Development Studies

Area and Development Studies

Grant type

Research Grant