The European Phytosanitary Research Coordination (EUPHRESCO) Consortium was initiated in 2006 as a EU-funded network. EUPHRESCO is a strong sustainable network of funders, policy makers and research organizations hosted by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) with over 70 organizations from 50 countries around the world. APAARI has just become the Consortium’s partner to support the network’s expansion in Asia-Pacific region.

In the dynamic landscape of phytosanitary research, EUPHRESCO III emerges as a pivotal initiative, building on the successes of its predecessors – EUPHRESCO I and II. The success of EUPHRESCO as a primarily European network for phytosanitary research coordination has set the ground for discussions on the development of initiatives to address the needs of other regions of the world and global phytosanitary research coordination.

Hosted by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), the EUPHRESCO III project aims to enhance national and regional phytosanitary research coordination and to set the foundations for global phytosanitary research coordination through fit-for-purpose activities. It aims to:

1. Develop a comprehensive medium-term (5-10 years) global strategic agenda for phytosanitary research priorities. This agenda will serve as a guiding beacon for project partners, aligning their efforts to address national, regional, and global challenges.
2. Facilitate joint calls on common research priorities, fostering international collaboration to meet the needs of research funders and policymakers, generating significant positive outcomes for plant health.
3. Develop and test models for the governance, structure, and operations of a global network dedicated to phytosanitary research coordination, including establishing a roadmap for the evolution of this global network.
4. Facilitate engagement of a spectrum of stakeholders, including policymakers, research funders, academia, industry players (agri-food, biotech, diagnostics, seed industry), farmers, and foresters. This engagement aims to foster knowledge exchange, participation in project activities, co-development, innovation, and the dissemination and adoption of research outputs.

APAARI’s Role

APAARI proudly joins hands with ACIAR and CABI as a regional champion for the Asia-Pacific region within the EUPHRESCO III initiative. APAARI will be taking the lead as coordinator in the Asia-Pacific region to initiate planning, collaboration, outreach and shape the operations related to phytosanitary research planning in the Asia-Pacific region.

Consultation Process

EUPHRESCO III adopts a consultative approach, involving national and regional consultations led by project partners and champions. These events, whether face-to-face, remote, or hybrid, will be engaging stakeholders at various levels. The outcomes include increased awareness, identification of research priorities, and the consolidation of regional and global perspectives.

Expected Outcomes

The initiative is envisioned to lead to the following expected outcomes:

• Development of a robust global strategic agenda for phytosanitary research.
• Facilitation of collaborative research projects through joint calls.
• Establishment of models for the governance and operations of a global phytosanitary research network.
• Active engagement and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders.

EUPHRESCO III will shape the future of phytosanitary research coordination, fostering collaboration that transcends boundaries. For more information, please visit the https://www.euphresco.net/ and watch up for updates on the APAARI website and Social Media.

APAARI members and others from the Asia Pacific Region interested to play active role in EUPHRESCO III shall contact the APAARI Secretariat (ks.varaprasad@apaari.org) with a brief account of status of their country/organization in the area of phytosanitary research.