The world’s leading authorities on plant health and biosecurity
will come together for the world’s first-ever International Plant
Health Conference (IPHC), co-organised by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the
Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC) and Defra.
More than 500 policymakers, academics and experts from over 74
countries will convene at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference
Centre in London to address current and future plant health
challenges, including the impacts of climate change, food
security, environmental protection, facilitating safe trade, and
new pest and disease pathways, such as e-commerce. Held on 21-23
September, delegates will share knowledge and discuss global
scientific, technical and regulatory issues, alongside actions to
tackle these existential threats to our society, economy and
environment.
The Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations estimates that each year up to 40 percent of
global crop production is lost to plant diseases, costing the
agricultural trade over USD 220 billion, whilst invasive insects
cause losses of at least USD 70 billion. The risks to food
security, international trade, biodiversity and our precious
natural environment as a result of current and future outbreaks
are all too real. Strengthening global standards of biosecurity,
applying the IPPC and international plant health standards, as
well as fostering greater international collaboration and raising
public awareness and engagement with these challenges will be
paramount to safeguard the global economy and environment for
generations to come.
Nicola Spence, United Kingdom Chief Plant Health Officer,
said:
Plant health and biosecurity are fundamental to life on Earth.
Plants provide 80 percent of the food we eat and 98 percent of
the oxygen we breathe. In a changing climate, ensuring their
continued health and vitality will be critical to safeguarding
food security, safe international trade and a thriving natural
environment for future generations.
The United Kingdom upholds amongst the highest standards of
biosecurity in Europe but there is much more to do to secure our
future resilience - here and around the world. I look
forward to coming together with international experts from a
range of disciplines to discuss how to tackle the varied and
mounting challenges facing our precious plant life.
Jingyuan Xia, Director of Plant Production and Protection
Division said:
Climate change and human actions have altered ecosystems and
created new niches where plant pests and diseases can thrive.
When combatting pests and diseases, farmers should adopt, and
policymakers should encourage the use of, environment-friendly
methods such as integrated pest management.
Applying international plant health standards helps reduce the
use of pesticides and poisonous substances, which kill
pollinators, natural pest enemies and organisms crucial for a
healthy environment. These result in healthier crops with less
residues, leading to better human, plant and animal health.’’
Osama El-Lissy, Secretary, International Plant Protection
Convention, said:
The first International Plant Health Conference is an important
advancement of our work in protecting plants from pests and
diseases. We are very pleased to partner with Defra who shares
FAO’s and IPPC’s common goals. We cannot underestimate the impact
that plant pests and diseases have on global food security,
livelihoods, the environment and economies.
To achieve our goals and contribute to food security, protect the
environment and facilitate safe trade, I encourage donors and
governments to invest in building plant health capacity, research
and outreach. Let us keep our collective efforts going and take
bold action to sustain the momentum. When we protect plants, we
protect our health and our lives.
Across the three days of the IPHC, plenary sessions will explore
a range of scientific, regulatory and technical issues,
including:
- Regional perspectives on tackling ongoing pest and disease
outbreaks, including Xylella fastidiosa, fall armyworm and
coconut rhinoceros beetle.
- How to increase the use of electronic phytosanitary
certificates to make trade safer, faster and cheaper.
- The development and adoption of early warning systems for
pests and diseases to increase vigilance and preparedness for
future outbreaks.
Moreover, the IPHC aims to promote positive behavioural change
through greater public engagement with biosecurity issues. For
example, the importance of not bringing home plants, trees, fruit
and seeds from overseas, as doing so could inadvertently cause
pests, diseases and invasive species to be introduced or to
spread in new areas. This aligns with the United Kingdom
Government’s long-running ‘Don’t Risk It!’ campaign, which
featured on the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Gold
Medal-winning stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022.
Protecting plant health is critical in achieving the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Healthy plants
contribute to achieving food security for all (SDG 2 Zero Hunger)
and promotes responsible food consumption and production (SDG
12). Protecting plants helps protect biodiversity and the
environment from the impact of plant pests (SDG 13 and 15), and
facilitates safe trade, in turn providing decent work and
boosting economic growth (SDG 8). The International Plant Health
Conference supports the delivery of the IPPC Strategic Framework
2020-2030.
For more information, visit the International Plant Health
Conference website.
