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FAO urges bold and urgent action to safeguard plant health

Mar 19, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- The 19th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-19) opened on Tuesday   at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) headquarters in Rome, bringing together global experts, policymakers, and stakeholders for a week of discussions on strengthening international phytosanitary standards, addressing the increasing risks posed by plant pests and diseases, and advancing digital solutions for safe trade.

In his opening remarks, the FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, underscored the critical role of plant health in achieving food security, biodiversity, and sustainable agri-food systems. “Healthy plants are the foundation of productive farms and strong rural livelihoods. Yet, pests and the spread of invasive species destroy up to 40 percent of global crops, costing the global economy over $220 billion each year.”

Qu also emphasised the growing impact of shifting environmental and weather conditions, which are altering the movement of plant pests into new regions, threatening food production and ecosystems. “Harsh climate events further alter the movement of pests and diseases to new areas with more and destructive diseases that are transboundary,” he said, highlighting that, for this reason, protecting plant health is essential for human, animal and environmental health.

Recognizing the need for greater investment in plant health, the Director-General announced that FAO has allocated an additional $500,000 in its Programme of Work and Budget for 2026-27 to strengthen the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) implementation of international standards, training, and innovation— the first  increase from the FAO Regular Budget for the IPPC in five years.

Looking ahead at CPM-19

In the coming days, CPM-19 will focus on adopting new international phytosanitary standards (ISPMs), including ISPM 46, the first commodity-specific standard aimed at ensuring safer international trade of fresh mango, and ISPM 39, which provides guidance on mitigating pest risks associated with the movement of wood. These standards are expected to enhance global trade while strengthening plant health protection measures.

The Commission will also feature the launch of the IPPC Plant Health Campus, a global e-learning platform aimed at strengthening phytosanitary capacity worldwide. Developed by the IPPC, the platform will provide free, high-quality courses for national plant protection organizations and plant health professionals, equipping them with essential knowledge on pest surveillance, risk assessment, and safe trade practices.

The Director-General also added that, “Protecting plant health is essential – not only for agriculture, but for human, animal, and environmental health. The One Health approach ensures a holistic response, reducing pesticide use, limiting zoonotic disease risks, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and preventing environmental degradation.” He reiterated FAO’s commitment to this approach, noting that the 29th Session of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) has recommended strengthening the One Health efforts and FAO’s collaboration with all key partners. The session also featured the launch of the report “Investing in Trade Digitalization – The Case of e-Phyto”, highlighting the growing role of digital phytosanitary certification in making global trade more secure and efficient. The e-Phyto Solution “has ensured that, currently, approximately 20 percent of international trade in plant-based products is now conducted more efficiently and securely, benefiting both exporters and importers,” the Director-General said.

(FAO urges bold and urgent action to safeguard plant health)

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