EUFAWREADY is a four-year European research and innovation project dedicated to strengthening Europe’s preparedness against the Fall Armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, a highly invasive and polyphagous insect pest originating from the Americas. Having spread across several continents, this pest was detected in mainland Europe in 2023 and represents a growing threat to agricultural production, particularly maize and other important crops.

Funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, EUFAWREADY brings together 25 partners from 14 countries, coordinated by the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE). The project combines expertise in entomology, plant health, agricultural sciences, digital technologies and biological control to develop practical and sustainable solutions for European agriculture.

The project focuses on three main areas:

1. LEARN – Understanding the pest

EUFAWREADY investigates the biology, genetics, adaptability and spread of European Fall Armyworm populations. Through genomic research, field studies and predictive modelling, the project aims to better understand the pest’s invasive potential, assess its risks and anticipate its possible impact on European agriculture and ecosystems.

2. DETECT – Improving early detection and monitoring

The project develops and evaluates innovative monitoring and detection approaches to identify Fall Armyworm as early as possible. These include improved pheromone traps, artificial intelligence-based identification tools, odour sensors and molecular diagnostic techniques, helping farmers and plant health authorities detect and monitor potential outbreaks more effectively.

3. MANAGE – Developing sustainable control strategies

EUFAWREADY explores a range of environmentally friendly pest management solutions, including natural enemies, microbial biological control agents, plant-based products and natural semiochemicals. These approaches will be integrated into practical Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and guidelines to support farmers, agricultural advisers and phytosanitary services in making informed and sustainable pest management decisions.

Beyond research and technological development, EUFAWREADY places strong emphasis on knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement and communication. By bringing together researchers, farmers, industry representatives and plant health authorities, the project aims to ensure that its findings and solutions can be effectively transferred into agricultural practice.

Ultimately, EUFAWREADY aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to anticipate, detect and sustainably manage Fall Armyworm outbreaks, while reducing economic and environmental impacts and limiting reliance on synthetic pesticides.

For more information, please visit the official website.