1. Introduction
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) represent one of the most economically significant yet underappreciated threats to global food security, reducing annual food production by 12.3% and causing economic losses exceeding US$173 billion worldwide (Kantor et al., 2024). These microscopic soil-dwelling organisms compromise crop yields and quality across diverse agricultural systems, with impacts ranging from moderate productivity losses in highly mechanized systems to devastating yield reductions in resource-limited smallholder farming systems (Coyne et al., 2018). The challenge of managing PPN is intensifying due to climate change, which is expanding the geographic range of damaging species and creating conditions favorable for new infestations in previously unaffected regions (Sikora et al., 2021). Furthermore, the phase-out of effective chemical nematicides in many jurisdictions, driven by environmental and human health concerns, has created an urgent need for sustainable alternative management strategies (Desaeger et al., 2020; Sikora et al., 2023).
Traditional approaches to nematode management have proven inadequate to address the scale and complexity of this global challenge. Chemical control options are increasingly limited, expensive, and environmentally unsustainable. New infestations of economically damaging species disrupt production systems and threaten agricultural trade, yet international coordination to prevent their spread remains fragmented. Compounding these challenges is a critical shortage of trained nematologists, particularly in developing regions where the impacts are most severe, and regulatory frameworks that have failed to keep pace with advances in biological control and biotechnology. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires coordinated international action, science-based policy reform, and enhanced collaboration across research, industry, and government sectors.
In response to these urgent needs, the Society of Nematologists, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Co-operative Research Programme (OECD-CRP), convened a three-day symposium titled “Nematodes on the Move: Building Resilience and Sustainability through International Collaboration and Better Policies” in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, from July 14–16, 2025. The symposium attracted 653 participants from 66 countries, including representatives from 22 OECD-CRP member countries, with backgrounds spanning academia (70%), extension services (10%), industry (10%), and government policy sectors (10%). This truly global gathering provided a unique platform for knowledge exchange and policy dialogue on one of agriculture’s most pressing challenges.
2. The OECD co-operative research programme
The OECD Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems serves as a catalyst for international scientific collaboration addressing critical challenges in agriculture and food security. It is established to promote multidisciplinary research and facilitate knowledge exchange among OECD member countries and partner economies, the CRP funds conferences, workshops, and research fellowships that bring together scientists, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to address complex agricultural challenges requiring coordinated international responses (OECD, 2024). The programme operates through three interconnected themes: Theme 1 focuses on managing natural capital for productive and resilient agro-ecosystems; Theme 2 addresses strengthening resilience in the face of multiple risks in a connected world; and Theme 3 promotes transformational technologies and innovation for sustainable productivity growth.
This symposium aligned primarily with CRP Theme 2, addressing the need to anticipate, pre-empt, and cope with potential and real impacts of PPN on agricultural systems and food security in an increasingly connected and climate-challenged world. The symposium also touched upon Theme 1 through discussions of soil health, biodiversity, and integrated agricultural systems, and Theme 3 through presentations on genomics, biotechnology, and digital technologies for nematode management and risk assessment. By facilitating dialogue between research excellence and policy relevance, the CRP framework enabled this symposium to generate actionable recommendations with potential for immediate impact on international agricultural policy and practice.
3. Symposium structure and themes
The symposium was structured as three sequential plenary sessions, each addressing a distinct but interconnected dimension of the global PPN challenge. This structure enabled comprehensive examination of the problem while building toward integrated policy solutions.
3.1. Session 1: Understanding the impact of plant-parasitic nematodes on global food security and trade in a changing world
The opening session, co-organized with the Society of Nematologists Regulatory Committee and moderated by Inga Zasada, established the scope and urgency of the PPN challenge. Following an introduction to the OECD-CRP by Se-Yeoun Cha (Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea), presentations examined regional impacts, with Daniel Coyne (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Ghent University, Belgium) detailing the severe consequences for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Johan van den Hoogen (ETH Zürich, Switzerland) presented global modeling of nematode abundance under current and future climate scenarios, revealing unexpected diversity hotspots and climate-driven range expansions. Adrienne Gorny (North Carolina State University, USA) described rapid-response protocols for invasive PPN species, using the case of Meloidogyne enterolobii to illustrate effective coordination among regulatory agencies, researchers, and agricultural stakeholders. Oriana Acevedo Pardo (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, Chile) provided a South American perspective on regulation, quarantine measures, and trade impacts. The session concluded with a panel discussion exploring how PPN impacts vary across regions and agricultural systems, establishing the foundation for subsequent discussions of management solutions.
3.2. Session 2: Reducing the global movement of plant-parasitic nematodes and rethinking control strategies.
The second session, co-organized with the Society of Nematologists Plant Resistance to Nematodes Committee and moderated by Joanna Kud, focused on innovative management approaches and the barriers to their adoption. Ralf-Udo Ehlers (Biocontrol Biotech Consult, Germany) opened with an industry perspective on obstacles to biological control product development, registration, and commercialization. Olivera Topalović (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) discussed strategies for enhancing agroecosystem resilience to nematode pressure through ecological approaches. Shahid Siddique (University of California, Davis, USA) reviewed advances in biotechnology and genomics for sustainable nematode management, while Joanna Kud (University of Arkansas, USA) examined tools for engineering plant resistance. Neena Mitter (Charles Sturt University and The University of Queensland, Australia) addressed regulatory and social acceptance challenges for RNA-based biopesticides, highlighting the gap between scientific capability and deployment readiness. Panel discussions explored barriers to sustainable management practice adoption and how policy support could overcome these challenges, as well as strategies for integrating advanced technologies into comprehensive nematode management and risk assessment frameworks.
3.3. Session 3: Policy, collaboration, and extension: creating a global framework for action
The final session, co-organized with the Society of Nematologists Extension Committee and moderated by Horacio Lopez-Nicora, synthesized lessons learned and charted pathways forward through enhanced collaboration and policy reform. Aska Goverse (Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands) presented the NEM-EMERGE collaborative research and innovation project as a model for countering invasive and virulent nematodes in Europe and beyond. Horacio Lopez-Nicora (The Ohio State University, USA) shared lessons from the Soybean Cyst Nematode Coalition, demonstrating the effectiveness of unified messaging through public–private partnerships. Tim Thoden (Corteva Agriscience, Germany) provided an industry perspective on how government policies shape global trends in nematicide and biocontrol development. Claudia Dias-Arieira (State University of Maringa, Brazil) challenged participants to rethink research priorities and collaboration models to keep pace with rapidly evolving nematode threats. Richard A. Sikora (University of Bonn, Germany) concluded with recommendations for policy development to drive knowledge transfer, extension, and technology adoption. Closing panel discussions addressed effective models for international and cross-sector collaboration and the role of government policies, education, and extension services in supporting nematode management.
4. Major outcomes and policy recommendations
The symposium generated several critical conclusions with direct relevance to agricultural policy at national and international levels.
First, participants emphasized the urgent need for regulatory modernization across plant health, agricultural input, and technology domains to eliminate barriers that impede the development and adoption of sustainable nematode management solutions. Existing regulatory frameworks should adopt fast-track, risk-proportionate pathways for biologicals, RNA-based, and genome-edited products, eliminating redundant requirements for well-characterized, low-risk products. Importantly, participants called for guidance and flexible, harmonized frameworks that recognize the benefits and socio-economic impacts of regulatory decisions, and for standardized access and benefit-sharing mechanisms for novel biological agents.
Second, the symposium highlighted investment in shared scientific and technical infrastructure, alongside enhanced international cooperation, as urgent global priorities. Stakeholders called for sustained, coordinated support for public-good datasets (such as nematode genomes, target panels, and reference sequences), digital decision-support tools (integrating climate risk, microbiome, and IPM options), and harmonized diagnostic systems. Cross-border research alliances, institutionalized through regional hubs of excellence and digital platforms, must facilitate data sharing, and rapid, science-based mutual recognition of management and diagnostic tools. Such platforms should link universities, government, industry, and farmer organizations and be prioritized in policy and funding mechanisms.
Third, participants identified transformation of extension and knowledge transfer systems as essential. Extension programs should be resourced and digitally enabled to reach farmers, including in the languages and channels most effective for diverse communities, linking with trusted commodity boards, cooperatives, and public-private coalitions. Extension networks require increased staffing, training, and competitive grants, with education ‘pipelines’ that include teachers, students, and next-generation extensionists, and should be recognized in accreditation frameworks.
Fourth, advancing effective adoption and outcome stewardship was recognized as a critical enabler for sustainable nematode management. Participants called for research programs that integrate adoption science, diagnostics, and socio-economics alongside technical innovation, particularly in regions most vulnerable to climate-driven nematode threats. Ongoing monitoring, reporting of adoption and outcomes using predefined metrics, and transparent public communication are essential. Policymakers should require monitoring, evaluation, and outcome reporting for education, stewardship, and coalition-delivered interventions.
Finally, strategic public and private investment should target not only research and demonstration but also outcome-focused education, communication, and stewardship programs. Funding for centers of excellence in nematology, real-world validation trials, manufacturing infrastructure for novel products, education pipelines, and integrated management adapted to changing climates is essential. Climate modeling presented at the symposium underscored the dynamism and urgency of these investments, revealing the shifting geographies of PPN impact and the need for adaptive, climate-informed management strategies supported by robust, collaborative plant health systems.
5. Synthesis papers
The three papers that follow provide detailed synthesis of presentations and discussions from each symposium session. These papers capture the current state of knowledge, identify critical research gaps, and elaborate policy recommendations emerging from expert dialogue. Together, they provide a comprehensive roadmap for addressing the global challenge of plant-parasitic nematodes through science-based policy, international collaboration, and sustainable innovation. The insights and recommendations presented in these proceedings are intended to inform policymakers, research funding agencies, regulatory authorities, and agricultural stakeholders working to build more resilient and sustainable food production systems in an era of global change.
Acknowledgments
The organizers thank the OECD Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems (CRP) for sponsorship, PROCINORTE for the online broadcasting platform and simultaneous translation, the Society of Nematologists for hosting, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for facilitation, and most importantly, the speakers and participants for their exceptional contributions.
Funding information
This symposium was supported by the OECD Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems.
Author contributions
BM: Conceptualization, supervision, project administration, resources, funding acquisition, writing original draft preparation, review and editing.
Conflict of interest statement
Authors state no conflict of interest.