Dr. Marie-Agnès Jacques from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research – Institut National de recherché Agronomique (INRA) presented a special seminar at FABI. Her presentation, entitled "Emergence of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe: diversity and biology of the causing agent" described how this bacterium devastated Olive trees in southern Italy following its introduction to Europe.

Dr. Jacques has more than 16 years’ research in plant pathogenic bacteria and was visiting FABI in her capacity as the external examiner for the PhD defence and examination of Tania Weller-Stuart.