Plant Pathogens on Your Plate: Italy’s Hidden Health Crisis

This study pioneers an urgent examination of quarantine plant pathogens as vectors of human disease via food chains, a nexus underexplored in prior research. Analyzing a robust EU phytosanitary dataset, we reveal pathways—mycotoxins, insect vectors, and import risks—driving a 5–10% rise in mycotoxin-related illnesses (500-1,000 cases yearly) and healthcare costs of €25–75 million annually, with social costs from agricultural losses reaching €0.5-1 billion. Italy exemplifies this global crisis, where pathogens like Xylella fastidiosa and Spodoptera frugiperda threaten food safety and livelihoods. Bridging phytopathology and public health, these findings demand integrated pest management and enhanced surveillance, offering a critical lens on a pervasive threat amplified by trade and climate change. JEL Classification Codes: I18, Q17, Q54, H51, Q18, R11, F18