The matrix of impacts for candidate priority pests assessed under EFSA-Q-2024-00340

This dataset reports the results of the assessment of impact to ecosystem services by candidate priority pests, produced under the second mandate on Priority Pests, received by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) from the European Commission, DG SANTE in 2022 (EFSA-Q-2024-00340).

For each pest, the results are organised in matrices assessing the potential impact of pests in terms of reduction of ecosystem services flow to the European Union. Each matrix reports the impact on the assessed ecosystem services for all the impacted ecosystem types. In each cell of the matrix the rationale provided by the involved experts is reported.

During that project, EFSA was requested to assess 46 candidate priority pests. Among these 46 pests, 25 were selected, based on the expected impact on plant traits that have direct connection with ecosystem traits, and therefore with the ecosystem services. 

The applied methodology is described in the guidance document titled "EFSA methodology for assessing the impact of plant pests to ecosystem services" and published in the EFSA Journal with the doi https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2025.EN-9607, while this dataset is the first example of its application.