The overall objective of the DiscoBerry project is to tackle the growing threat posed by high-risk, hard-to-contain fungal and bacterial diseases affecting berry crops, particularly strawberries and blueberries, by developing and implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.

This strategy will be tested based on advanced research into the pathogens of interest and a thorough risk assessment. It will leverage new knowledge on pathogen biology and ecology on one hand, and introduction pathways and environmental factors promoting their spread (including climate change, trade, and globalization) on the other.

DiscoBerry will develop and validate economically sustainable preventive and curative solutions tailored to the evolving challenges of pathogen emergence and spread. These solutions will integrate cultivars equipped with resistance traits, digital technologies for early disease detection, and microbial biocontrol strategies.

Furthermore, the project will assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of outbreaks and the implemented management measures using a One Health approach, which holistically considers the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment.
The goal is to strengthen the strategic autonomy, sustainability, and resilience of European berry agri-food systems, directly addressing the practical needs of farmers and other supply chain actors while aligning with the objectives of relevant European Union regulatory frameworks.