The University of Padua launches the first doctoral scholarship on the spruce bark beetle
07.11.2025
The University of Padua has initiated a doctoral research scholarship to address the emergency of the spruce bark beetle, a pest that has devastated the forests of Veneto following the Vaia storm of 2018. This pest has caused the death of over 8 million trees in Veneto alone.
The first three-year doctoral scholarship, funded through a fundraising campaign started in 2024, has been awarded to Denise Busa from the Department of Agronomy, Animals, Food, Natural Resources and Environment (DAFNAE). Denise Busa began her research in November as part of the Crop Science doctoral programme.
Andrea Battisti, Massimo Faccoli, and Emanuele Lingua, scientific coordinators of the Emergency Spruce Bark Beetle project from the DAFNAE and TESAF Departments, emphasised that despite a decline in bark beetle populations due to natural antagonists and favourable climatic conditions, it is necessary to maintain high vigilance through monitoring devices.
Denise Busa outlined the main objectives of her research project: the use of automatic traps to monitor population dynamics, identification of natural biocontrol agents, and analysis of factors limiting forest regeneration through drone and satellite images.
The funding of this scholarship represents hope for the future of the forests. The University of Padua continues to raise funds to finance a second doctoral scholarship and strengthen the research team, with the aim of preventing new outbreaks and creating more resilient forests. Major supporters of the project include Clivet S.p.a., Sipa S.p.a., Cherry Bank S.p.a., Akqa S.r.l. and Dal Negro.
Contributions to the fundraising campaign can be made through donations.
