POMATO: Effective management strategies to tackle Clavibacter sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum outbreaks on POtato and toMATO crops

The Solanaceae family, which includes economically vital crops like potatoes and tomatoes from the Solanum genus, is fundamental to global agriculture. These essential crops, critical for human nutrition, confront major threats from pests and diseases that lead to annual economic losses in the billions of euros.

 

Two bacteria in particular, Clavibacter sepedonicus (Cs), which causes ring rot in potatoes, and Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), responsible for bacterial wilt, present severe economic and environmental risks. Due to these threats, they are subject to strict regulatory controls, classified as EPPO A2 quarantine pests, and included in the EU’s Regulation 2019/2072.

 

In response, the POMATO project works to safeguard potato and tomato health through a strategy built on four key pillars: isolating and characterizing resistance genes from native and wild crop varieties; implementing early detection systems using advanced AI and digital prediction platforms; developing natural biocontrol solutions; and validating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in real-world field conditions (TRL 5).

 

This 48-month collaborative initiative brings together a wide range of actors from across the potato and tomato value chain, including academic institutions, agrochemical companies, farmers, and international partners from heavily affected regions like Latin America. By pooling this diverse expertise, POMATO seeks to halt the spread of these quarantine pests and strengthen food security, with a primary goal of reducing the incidence of Cs and Rs by 40-60%.

 

Furthermore, sharing the project’s IPM strategies with key stakeholders and policymakers helps ensure the economic sustainability of EU production. This approach enhances farm competitiveness and provides a model for replicating the project’s successful outcomes in other crops.

Our main tasks

• Compilation of molecular data into a common platform
• Identification of biotic and abiotic factors affecting bacterial disease establishment and spread

Partners

UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS | INSTYTUT HODOWLI I AKLIMATYZACJI ROSLIN | AGROSAVIA | UNIVERSIDAD SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO | IRIS TECHNOLOGY | IDENER.AI | WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY | FUNDITEC | UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID | INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN | CHEMIA | FERTICO | INOSENS | POLSKA IZBA NASIENNA | EUROPATAT | FOOD4SUSTAINABILITY

Start date – finish date

05 / 2025 - 04 / 2029