The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a report on its 14th webinar on the Siberian silk moth (Dendrolimus sibiricus), held as part of a series of 20 webinars on EU priority pests. The webinar, conducted in collaboration with academic experts under a framework contract for technical and scientific support to EFSA's training courses on plant pest surveillance, provided an overview of the pest's characteristics and included a practical simulation using the RiPEST tool. The recording is available on EFSA's YouTube channel and the EU Academy platform.
The webinar is part of EFSA's ongoing efforts to improve plant health crisis preparedness across the EU. The series targets priority pests identified by EU legislation, aiming to enhance the surveillance skills of national plant health authorities and other stakeholders. The Siberian silk moth is a destructive pest that can cause significant damage to coniferous forests, and its monitoring is crucial for early detection and control.
EFSA's initiative supports EU member states in strengthening their plant health surveillance systems, which is essential for preventing the introduction and spread of harmful organisms. The webinars combine theoretical knowledge with practical tools like RiPEST, a simulation software that helps participants practice pest surveillance scenarios. By training experts across Europe, EFSA aims to build a network of skilled professionals capable of responding effectively to pest outbreaks.
The report does not specify the exact date of the webinar, but it is the 14th in the series, with six more planned. The event report is published as an open-access document in EFSA Supporting Publications, with the DOI 10.2903/sp.efsa.2026.EN-10273. The webinar series is expected to continue through 2026, covering other priority pests such as the false codling moth and fall armyworm.