Dear Pascal,
        
        
        There are
          discussions ongoing on the above subject.
        The question
          of losses to pathogens and pests has not been addressed in a
          formal methodology text for nearly 5 decades. An update is
          long overdue.
        We're
          working, with Andrea Ficke, NIBIO, as lead (Chair of the Crop
          Loss Committee of the ISPP) on the organisation of an
          international symposium which would address all the new
          techniques/methods/technologies to address losses to pathogens
          and pests.
        
        
        The FAO has
          indicated its support.
        
        
        The ongoing
          discussions are about the goal and contents of this symposium,
          its participants, and its outputs (e.g., a small book).
        
        
        It would be
          exceedingly important that forest pathology be properly
          represented in the ongoing discussions, and of course the
          symposium itself. Forest Pathology, I am sure, has its own way
          of looking at things, its own logic/paradigms, and its own
          methods. These need to be reported / documented / explained /
          illustrated with simple examples anyone, anywhere in the
          world, can understand).
        
        
        
        I am writing
          to you to ask you if you could find the time to attend those
          meetings, and participate in the discussions. Also, it would
          be very good if you could indicate to us colleagues in Forest
          Pathology who could participate. These could be colleagues in
          France, or anywhere else in the world.
        
        
        I am in India
          currently, away from my usual files, and battling against
          (most) unreliable internet. It may be that I already reached
          tout to you. In that case, please accept my apologies. I am
          not trying to put any pressure. Any advice that you could have
          to Andrea, Neil, and me, would be most helpful.
        
        
        With very
          best wishes,
        Serge
        
        
        PS the next
          meeting will be on one of these dates: 25, 28, 29 october, 6,
          7, 8 November - at 2 to 4 pm, irrespective of the date chosen.
          If ever you're available, please let Andrea know your
          preferred dates. Anyone of the colleagues you know, and who
          would be interested to attend, would be most welcome too.
        
        
        -- 
        
          
            Serge
                    Savary
            
            Adjunct
                  Professor -
                  IARI, New Delhi; Professor of Plant
                  Pathology
                  (Hon.), GBPUA&T, India
            
            
            Directeur
                  de Recherche ORSTOM, IRD, INRA (Ret.);
                Visiting
                  Scholar -
                  UC
                  Davis, USA; Guest
                  Researcher, Univ. of Twente, ITC, The Netherlands; 
                
            Chevalier
                  du Mérite Agricole, France; Fellow, ISPP; APS
            ORCID:
                0000-0002-6867-180X
              
            
            