Key factors for successful alignment of national research programmes include: the combination of (i) bottom-up alignment actions that involve research stakeholders and (ii) top-down alignment actions that involve decision makers (research funders and policymakers) and building mutual trust and consensus at all levels through regular consultations and dialogue1.
In line with these recommendations, consultations of stakeholders that operate in plant health at national and regional level such as research funders, policy makers, research organizations, industry, farmers and foresters, were organized in the framework of the EUPHRESCO III project.
The work was led by the EUPHRESCO III regional and discipline champions and the EUPHRESCO III project partners, the Advisory Board members and the network of Satellite Organizations were involved at different degrees, in identifying and selecting relevant stakeholders and collecting their needs and views via consultations.
A mapping of stakeholders in the countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and the United States of America), regions (Africa, Australia, Latin America, Northern Europe, Southern Europe and Mediterranean, North America, Pacific islands, Central Asia and South-East Asia) and disciplines (biotech industry, diagnostic industry, seed industry and forest and tree health) covered by the project partners was undertaken. The stakeholders were interviewed via e-mail exchange, ad-hoc meetings, online surveys, conferences, etc.
The regional champions consolidated the information collected at national level into a regional position, which was further prioritized with the help of decision makers in the countries/regions.
The consultations have allowed to identify plant health needs that have been used to identify the research priorities for the annual calls for transnational collaboration and for the strategic research agenda.