🌿The easyPEST project – EstAblishing long-term monitoring SYstem for plant PESTs around the Black Sea – has officially started!
Supported by the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme and co-funded by the European Union, easyPEST aims to establish an AI-powered, citizen science-based long-term monitoring system for the early detection and surveillance of invasive plant pests across the Black Sea Basin.
By combining artificial intelligence, digital technologies and active citizen participation, the project will strengthen cross-border cooperation and improve regional capacity to prevent and respond to biological invasions. Ultimately, easyPEST will contribute to the protection of forests, the sustainability of agricultural production and the conservation of biodiversity throughout the region.
🤝 The project is coordinated by the Giresun Governorship (Türkiye) and brings together a strong international partnership comprising:
- Trabzon University (Türkiye)
- Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA (HAO-DIMITRA) (Greece)
- Ilia State University (Georgia)
Through close collaboration among scientists, public authorities and citizens, easyPEST will develop innovative tools for early warning, species identification and long-term pest monitoring, helping the Black Sea region become more resilient to the growing threat of invasive plant pests.
With a total budget of EUR 520,308.90, including EUR 468,278.01 EU funding, the project will be implemented between December 2025 and June 2027.
Through the development of digital tools, awareness-raising activities, stakeholder engagement and citizen science practices, easyPEST will contribute to a more coordinated and effective response to invasive alien insect pests in the Black Sea Basin.
🌿 Project: easyPEST – EstAblishing long-term monitoring SYstem for plant PESTs around the Black Sea
Project ID: BSB01081
Programme: 2021 – 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin
Co-funded by: European Union
Lead Partner: Giresun Governorship
🌍 Project Partners:
Trabzon University (Türkiye)
Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA (HAO-DIMITRA) (Greece)
Ilia State University (Georgia)
Project Duration: December 2025 – June 2027
Priority: (VI-B_BSB_P2) Clean and Green Region
Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches.
