Ireland Launches 2026-2030 Plant Health Strategy Against Xylella, Asian Long-horned Beetle

Ireland's Department of Agriculture has launched its new 43-page Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy (2026-2030) to protect the country's agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and wider environment from plant pests and diseases. The strategy addresses threats like Xylella fastidiosa and the Asian long-horned beetle.

Xylella fastidiosa, described as one of Europe’s most devastating bacterial diseases, damages over 500 plant species including oak, cherry, and ash. First detected in Italy in 2013, it is now present in France, Spain, and Portugal. If it spread across the EU, it could cause an annual production loss of €5.5 billion and risk nearly 300,000 jobs. Despite 1,099 samples taken over five years, no Xylella has been detected in Ireland.

The strategy also includes a contingency plan for the Asian long-horned beetle, a destructive pest native to China that threatens broadleaved trees. An outbreak in the UK in 2012 required felling over 2,000 trees. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon, launching the strategy in Co Kildare, noted Ireland's geographical isolation and temperate climate help, but risks are increasing due to globalization, e-commerce, and climate change. He cited a near-miss in 2023 with the potato tuber moth in an Egyptian potato consignment, which was rejected to protect Ireland's €80-€100 million potato industry.

The economic value of Ireland's plant and tree sectors is estimated at €4.9 billion based on 2024 CSO figures. The strategy ensures plans are in place for urgent response, eradication, and control if pests or diseases are found in Ireland.