Bacterial diseases of stone fruits & nuts COST Action 873 Start date: 20/12/2006 End date: 19/12/2011 Brion Duffy, Chair Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil, Switzerland Tanja Dreo, Vice-Chair National Institute of Biotechnology, Slovenia

2 Targeted Scientific Objectives Motivation – Serving an EU-wide need Stone fruit and nut trees are major economic crops with added-value for rural agriculture sustainability, cultural heritage cornerstones, quality-of-life landscape monuments. Tree health-productivity is threatened by endemic and invasive bacterial diseases. Chronic-Emerging-Biosecurity COST FA873 Mission Stimulate solid research results to control these diseases and preserve sustainable production across Europe. Coordinate scientist-phytosanitary inspection-industry stakeholders to deliver implementable, integrated control strategies. Provide training opportunities to mentor a next generation of plant protection specialists.

3 International Engagement Action Parties –

4 Research objectives – WG mission Diagnostic methods – develop, optimise, validate reliable, sensitive, simple tools WG1 - Diagnostics & Early Detection Biocontrol / safe chemicals – discover, develop, integrate disease management toolsBiocontrol / safe chemicals – discover, develop, integrate disease management tools Facilitate market entry – resistant varieties, evaluate efficacy/biosafey for registrationFacilitate market entry – resistant varieties, evaluate efficacy/biosafey for registration Pathogen genetics/biology/ecology – elucidate prey to design better control strategies (i.e., identify pathogen Achilles heel!)Pathogen genetics/biology/ecology – elucidate prey to design better control strategies (i.e., identify pathogen Achilles heel!) Phytosanitary technology transfer – new diseases, new disease forecasting models, streamline plant inspection/monitoring to prevent and contain disease threatsPhytosanitary technology transfer – new diseases, new disease forecasting models, streamline plant inspection/monitoring to prevent and contain disease threats WG2 – Disease Prevention & Epidemiology WG3 – Tree Host Resistance & Breeding WG4 – Sustainable Control Strategies Plant resistance resources – identify new sources by mining germplasm collectionsPlant resistance resources – identify new sources by mining germplasm collections SMART breeding – apply genetics/genomics to develop molecular markersSMART breeding – apply genetics/genomics to develop molecular markers

5 Innovative networking – new collaborations 27 meetings27 meetings More break-out sessions; fewer lecturesMore break-out sessions; fewer lectures Match-make – identify needs, potential and expertise of members, then bring people togetherMatch-make – identify needs, potential and expertise of members, then bring people together Focus on helping fill member needs to gain technology, fulfil ‘home’ obligationsFocus on helping fill member needs to gain technology, fulfil ‘home’ obligations Invest time to bring groups together that previously competedInvest time to bring groups together that previously competed Establish links/joint events with other Actions, intl organisationsEstablish links/joint events with other Actions, intl organisations Actively recruit interdisciplinary expertiseActively recruit interdisciplinary expertise Invest effort to facilitate stakeholder participation … not easyInvest effort to facilitate stakeholder participation … not easy

6 Leveraging COST873 for R&D funding 3 Euphresco pilot projects & >20 National projects linked directly to COST873 Upcoming: 3 KBBE, 1 Marie Curie ITN, EU Infrastructures proposal based on COST873 Swiss funding scheme; COST lobbying; need to find ways to support Chair, and key members as engines of Action Ask, listen and leverage members’ existing project fundingAsk, listen and leverage members’ existing project funding Take time to study national funding schemes, then help membersTake time to study national funding schemes, then help members

7 Promoting diversity & career development 18 (6%) - racial minorities 7 (2%) - LGBT (*out, open)

8 Training 13 Training Courses Including 1 st European event on biosecurity threat Xylella Expert STSMs 41 STSMs – linked to research >20 non-COST funded scientist exchanges

9 Working together with stakeholders Committee of Practioners Strong links developed with international stakeholder organisations Dedicated platform to facilitate dialogue between research and stakeholders effective transfer of research advances to end-users offer platform for end-user input to focus research efforts that meet real needs OECD BioPesticides Steering Group – COST873 members with regulatory impact. Organised 2 joint OECD/COST policy support conferences EPPO – COST873 members with regulatory impact. Organised 2 joint EPPO/COST training schools for phytosanitary inspectors. >14 national training events.

10 Use of COST Instruments Activity (No.)Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5 MC/WG Meetings (27) STSMs (41) Training Schools (13)12325 Workshops/Conferences (14)35133 Joint Publications (63) 2 peer-reviewed special issues >190 more linked to COST

11 Dissemination

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13 Make the effort to get to know your members & build relationships Ask members about their obligations back home – then find ways to help out (e.g., find collaborators) Ask, listen and leverage members’ existing project funding Match-make – identify needs, potential and expertise of members, then bring people together Invest time to bring groups together that previously competed Take time to study national funding schemes, then help members Lessons learned – tips for Chairs

14 Offer safe environment for democratic input from any and all But – give hands-on, decisive leadership as needed to stay on track Define goals & deliverables for all activities Delegate specific task forces to enthusiastic, competent members More break-out sessions and fewer lectures at meetings Cheerlead if you want to motivate & maintain momentum Lessons learned – tips for Chairs

15 Lessons learned – tips for COST Action exchanges to explore cooperation potential External fund to facilitate trans-COST Action exchanges, particularly regarding inter-disciplinary exploratory efforts Flexible funding of mobility activities Surveys in non-COST countries Expert courses in COST & non-COST countries Harmonized, streamlined & timely process for participation of non-COST countries to Action activities Portal or DC involvement to help Chairs ID key partners (e.g., from prior Actions, EU sphere, industry, etc.) – Chairs welcome this interjection!

16 Lessons learned – tips for COST COST Press One-2-One meetings of COST Office with Action Chairs/participants to identify and develop news items Expecting Chairs to just feed this material does not work Utilize Action ‘stars’ as COST ‘ambassadors’ to intl meetings – Sci, political, etc. Reserve a fund to send participants to high-profile, impact events to promote COST and relieve SO/Rapp load

17 R&D funding Identify ways to leverage COST as a lobby to access EU & national funding Tangible link of COST interests with ERA-Nets, EUREKA, Marie Curie Provide a COST portal for info on EU, international, national funding calls Lessons learned – tips for COST Utilize COST participant loyalty and experience Actively engage participants/Chairs to improve process; involce CSO, DC, Chairs, members Deploy Chairs/members as COST ‘ambassadors’ Support consultancy of experienced members with applicants & new Chairs

18 Lessons learned – tips for COST Reporting Active involvement of Sci Off & Rapporteur throughout Action activities not just final meetings Automatic invitations to SO and Rapp for all Action events; funded by COST Office not Action budgets Consistent reporting forms throughout Action tenure Better definition of reporting criteria and expectations Chair training forum to ensure appropriate reporting and gathering of data from Action participants

19 New Applications COST fills a major gap, but needs to improve application process in order to avoid the FP7 ‘luck of the draw’ perception that frustrates researchers, industry, policy and NGO stakeholders. Better definition of application criteria to ensure higher success rate for those that follow transparent guidelines This doesn’t mean anything is funded, but success rate must be higher Earlier involvement of DC in selection process to co-ordinate with other FP instruments, target gaps – complementarity of applications Avoid duplication & overlap in running Actions Shorter applications, topic only pre-proposals (1 page); recruited applicants Lessons learned – tips for COST

20 Accomplished 16 of the 19 S&T tasks set out in the MoU Achieved breakthroughs that move us forward towards controlling disease and elevate the stature of European phytobacteriology Revitalised, expanded and linked European networks of phytobacteriology, phytosanitary and plant breeding groups Fostered innumerable, new personal and professional relationships Promoted the personal & career development of ESRs & women Strengthened European and near-neighbor phytosanitary capacity that is so critical for agricultural biosecurity Integrated new technology and inter-disciplinary partners into the fight against bacterial diseases Established a solid platform for constructive dialogue between research and stakeholders Self evaluation – Successes

21 Didn’t reach our ultimate goal of producing a synthesis orchard management scheme; were late to involve non-COST experts Failed to integrate all the non-COST partners we wanted (e.g., Caucauses region), late bringing in Ukraine Fell short on attempts to change regulatory policy for biocontrol agents Fell short on attempts on funding efforts to link European culture collections; same for plant germplasm collections Didn’t satisfy ambitions for media and general public impact Chair stumbled on getting certain countries to engage fully Chair failed to resolve the chronic difficulty of Actions to obtain information on national output & activities for reporting Chair didn’t deliver the level of publicity Action achievements deserved Self evaluation – Weaknesses

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23 Networking - Action Parties Grant Holder Institute: Agroscope Scientific Representative: B. Duffy GH Country: Switzerland