Consumers, farmers and growers, regulators, policy makers and the rural environment, nationally and internationally, should benefit substantially from our research, development and communication activities. Our goals are to:

• Develop effective and sustainable strategies for controlling plant diseases, pests and weeds
• Advise the national Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Food Safety Authorities on phytosanitary matters
• Develop and apply sensitive and reliable diagnostic methods
• Perform research on pest biology and population dynamics to develop integrated pest management (IPM)
• Develop environmentally sound control practices that sustain crop productivity and quality
• Increase our international co-operation within the field of protection of cultivated plants from diseases, pests and weeds.
• Strengthen our international networks to ensure being continuously part of ‘state-of-the art' research activities
• To become an internationally approved knowledge institute within the field of control of plant diseases, pests and weeds.
  

Strategy and status

Bioforsk Plant Health and Plant Protection Division is the national center for research and development related to plant health.  Our main areas of expertise are bacteriology, virology, mycology, entomology, nematology, herbology, agricultural meteorology, genetics, biotechnology, ecotoxicology and analyses of pesticide residues in food, soil and water.

Our areas of expertise are applied to devise pest management strategies in agricultural and horticultural production, as well as managing natural resources and maintaining biodiversity. Pest management in a changing climate and with increasing global trade represents a major challenge for our scientists.

To serve our external and internal customers we maintain the national plant health library with a broad range of periodicals and textbooks. We have extensive collections of insects, fungi and a unique collection of drawings of native weeds. Our laboratories are well equipped and we focus on investing in  research infrastructure. Our climate chambers and field plots at various locations throughout the country facilitate lab-scale, as well as field trials.
International collaboration with foreign institutes and universities has strong traditions in Bioforsk Plant Health and Plant Protection DivisionWe focus on increasing our international activities through joint projects, scientist mobility and active participation in international networks.

Main contact: Director Ellen Merethe Magnus,
Division of Plant Health and Plant Protection