Changes in the distribution and pest risk of stored product insects in Europe due to global warming: Need for pan-European pest monitoring and improved food-safety

Abstract

Global warming affects the distribution of stored product pest insects across Europe in a way comparable to field crop and orchard pests. Nevertheless, stored product research has been neglected in Europe and detailed monitoring is lacking. This paper aims to illustrate current knowledge about the movement of storage pests up north today triggered by altered environmental conditions. In addition, it stresses the need for a pan-European surveillance to monitor the distribution, movement and spreading of stored product pests in a rapidly changing environment. Global warming and a growing number of extreme weather conditions may influence on climate and can negatively affect global food security, especially in the case of durable commodities, which are of fundamental importance for human nutrition. It is thus suggested that the distribution of stored product pests within Europe is uniformly monitored and studied by a joint initiative. Furthermore, for additional food safety the World Food Program should receive more support to fund research needed and provide larger food storages in regions prone to agricultural instability. It is also suggested that the missing quarantine/regulated status for the most serious stored product and invasive pests (such as Trogoderma granarium) should be re-evaluated in the EU.