La Pietra: “Institutions and Research Working Together to Support the Ornamental Plant Sector”

Italy is not expected to place the Pochazia shantungensis—a new pest affecting various plant species and originally from China—under official plant quarantine measures, despite its spread to several parts of the world, including Italy.

“We are receiving very positive signals regarding the decision not to include Pochazia shantungensis among quarantine pests for plants,” said Patrizio La Pietra, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (Masaf), in an official statement. He emphasized that “institutions and the scientific community have long been working together in support of the production system to prevent serious economic damage to the national ornamental plant industry.”

The small brown-winged insect has recently come under renewed scrutiny following the United Kingdom’s decision to list it among harmful organisms that must not be introduced into British territory. In fact, UK authorities have recently seized and destroyed several shipments of ornamental plants from Italy after detecting the pest, which feeds by piercing plant tissues.

In response, the National Phytosanitary Committee—coordinated by Masaf—has established a dedicated Working Group, involving CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), which serves as the National Reference Institute for Plant Protection.

“I want to highlight the effectiveness of the working approach adopted in this case as well,” said La Pietra, “and I extend my thanks to the National Phytosanitary Committee, and in particular to CREA and its president Andrea Rocchi, for their prompt cooperation. Their presence on the ground in Tuscany—where the ornamental plant sector plays a significant economic role—has been crucial to better understand the issue and take informed action.”