Pine Wood Nematode Detected in France for the First Time

The French Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed the first detection of the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in France, in the Landes region.
🔗 Official announcement (in French)

This pest, a priority quarantine organism in the EU, poses a major threat to pine forests, causing rapid tree decline and death.

The discovery highlights the urgent need for early detection, monitoring, and containment tools — objectives that lie at the core of the PurPest project. Through innovative sensor systems and cross-border collaboration, PurPest aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to detect and manage such invasive forest pests before they spread.