Phytophthora Conundrum

This practice abstract addresses the urgent challenge of managing potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, under mounting regulatory and environmental pressures to cut pesticide use by half by 2030. It outlines an integrated pest management (IPM/ICM) approach that combines crop rotation and sanitation measures to reduce oospore inoculum, the use of cultivars with stacked resistance genes, soil hygiene management, real-time monitoring supported by decision tools, and precision application of chemical or biological treatments only when necessary. This strategy aligns with EU Farm to Fork objectives, sustains disease control by slowing pathogen resistance development, protects yield and tuber quality, and enhances system resilience and environmental sustainability.