How can we sniff out plant pests and diseases?

Every year, large quantities of plant material are imported into Europe — and along with these plants, stowaways may arrive that can cause serious damage to forests, agriculture, and biodiversity. In this podcast, Andrea Ficke, coordinator of the PurPest project, explains how it is possible to create electronic noses (e-noses)...

Understanding and managing forest pests is more urgent than ever, and PurPest is at the forefront.

Stelios Kartakis, from Wageningen University and Research, presented the project’s latest findings at the International Pest Risk Research Group (IPRRG) meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

His presentation, “Modelling disease expression of Phytophthora ramorum to estimate potential economic...

The University of Neuchâtel (UniNe) is carrying out a second measurement campaign to test the new, improved version of the Sensor system prototype (SSP) developed by Chromatotec.

On 27 and 28 October, Axelle Fillinger and Stéphane Le Calvé (CNRS, Strasbourg) went to Neuchâtel to install the SSP together with the reference system (GC-PID). In parallel, the UniNe team will also be using the...

We’re proud to share that Purpest will be represented at the upcoming World Trade Organization I  WTO (World Trade Organization)| SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures) Committee Thematic Session on “Science-Based SPS Import Controls to Facilitate Safe Trade”, taking place on 3–4 November 2025 in Geneva.

Our partner Andrea Ficke (NIBIO, Norway) will present recent...

Luís Filipe Bonifácio, member of the INIAV team, was invited as a keynote speaker at the “EABRACE Workshop – First Years of Baltic Co-Partners Experience”, coordinated by Professor Iryna Matsiakh (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences).

The event took place in Krakow, Poland, from 15–17 October 2025, organized by Professor Magdalena Kacprzyk (Uniwersytet Rolniczy w...

PurPest was represented at the German Congress of Plant Protection (Deutsche Pflanzenschutztagung), held from 7–10 October 2025 at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany. The event was organized by the Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft e.V. (DPG) and the Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI).

In the scientific session “Biotechnical Plant Protection” chaired by Jürgen Gross, Ali...

Stelios Kartakis visited Queen’s University Belfast from 13–17 October for a week-long research stay focused on discrete choice modelling. Together with Dr Insa Thiermann, he analysed and interpreted data from the PurPest nursery survey (Deliverable 5.3), shedding light on European nurseries’ attitudes towards adopting VOC sensor technology.

This training visit highlights PurPest’s...

On September 26^th, INIAV presented the PurPest project at the European Researchers’ Night, a Europe-wide celebration of science and its impact on everyday life. The event brought together researchers, families, schools, and science enthusiasts to explore innovations in science, sustainability, and technology.

At the PurPest stand, visitors of all ages engaged ...

The annual workshop of the EU project FORSAID was held on 11–12 September in Carcavelos, Portugal, jointly organized by the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) and the Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV). During the session on project synergies, PurPest was highlighted as a successful and impactful collaboration.