Authorities warn against plant disease import

The Danish Agricultural Agency warns against the spread of a plant disease ‘Xylella Fastidiosa’, a bacterium that prevents plants from absorbing water and nutrients, thus killing them. The disease has caused significant issues in France and Italy, where it was first identified in 2013, resulting in the death of around 60 million olive trees in the region of Puglia. To prevent the disease’s arrival in Denmark, the agency is distributing bath balls and suitcase belts at Copenhagen Airport on August 6 and 8 as part of the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, an EU initiative to stop plant diseases and harmful insects. The agency’s unit manager, Kristine Riskær, advises against moving plants and seeds, as the pest can hide in seeds, fruits, vegetables, and plants, potentially causing irreversible damage to nature, crops, and leading to costlier exports due to mandatory testing.