APHA sniffing out plant threats at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show is an annual highlight of the UK’s horticultural calendar, attracting a diverse global audience.audience, and this year marked another hugely successful event for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in terms of awards.

This year’s event takesis taking place from 19 to 23 May and marks the eleventh year that theAPHA Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has exhibited at the show. APHA’s exhibit entitled ‘Scents and Sensors’ – Sniffing Out Plant Pests and Diseases, aims to highlight horticultural science and technological innovations and can be found in the GreenSTEM area of the Great Pavilion.

Visitors can discover what APHA does currently to detect plant pest and disease threats and the research underway to develop new and innovative solutions to help tackle this growing issue. The exhibit investigates the olfactory sense (sense of smell) and shows how science is being used to detect plant pests and diseases, literally by “sniffing them out”. Visitors can explore how humans, trained detector dogs and electronic noses detect odours and can even test their own sense of smell by using the interactive sniffing stations.

Visitors will learn more about the traditional and technologically advanced pest-spotting approaches, the most common species of plants at risk and the pests and diseases of most concern. They will be encouraged to take away practical tips, including biosecurity advice to help protect the UK from potentially devastating plant threats and what we can all do to help, prevent, spot and control them.

APHA’s Chief Executive, Richard Lewis said:

“I’m proud of the work we do to screen imported plants, fresh produce, and plant products to prevent plant pests and diseases from entering the country, and here at Chelsea Flower Show ensuring the plants entering the show are free from pests and diseases.

“Our exhibit this year is a fantastic showcase of some of that work – showing the innovative solutions and technologies that are in development to better protect the UK from destructive plant pests and pathogens in the future.”

New innovations support the work of APHA’s Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors as the action they take inspecting imported plants, fresh produce and plant products at borders and beyond is vital and protects the country from plant pest and disease threats. It’s important these are identified as quickly as possible, so they can be controlled where they are found and to prevent further spread.

Once again, APHA’s exhibit won a gold medal from the RHS.RHS, and best GreenSTEM exhibit, a phenomenal achievement. As well as various ministers, the exhibit was visited by His Majesty the King and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.