Advancing global plant health: Implementation and Capacity Development Committee spotlights phytosanitary projects

Rome, 16 May 2023. The Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) organized an open session to raise awareness on ongoing phytosanitary projects managed by the IPPC Secretariat and IPPC partner organizations. Annual IC project sessions, normally open to IC members and select observers, serve as a platform to gather, analyze and disseminate information on implementation and capacity development projects related to plant health.

To foster inclusivity, the IC opened the session to the wider global phytosanitary community to include national and regional plant protection organizations (NPPOs, RPPOs), international organizations and other stakeholders. The open session further served to facilitate networking at national, regional and global levels.

The session coincided with the week-long IC meeting held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, with a mix of in-person attendance by IC members and presenters as well as virtual participation by other presenters and audiences. To promote information sharing, NPPOs, international organizations and regional organizations presented eight additional projects that are underway at the regional and national levels. These presentations covered a wide range of phytosanitary topics, including the Sterile Insect Technique, plant pest notification systems, surveillance, early detection, and Integrated Pest Management. The presentations generated significant interest among participants. The session witnessed active engagement from the attendees, who shared their experiences and posed questions to the panelists, facilitating a deeper understanding of the projects.

The IPPC Secretariat currently oversees six active projects, with funding provided by the government of the People's Republic of China, the European Union (EU), Japan, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat (funded by EU), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Osama El-Lissy, IPPC Secretary, expressed his optimism, stating, "I believe that this webinar will successfully achieve its intended objectives, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration among all stakeholders involved."

The session is expected to continue annually as a public event, providing ongoing opportunities for information exchange on phytosanitary projects.

Related information:

IC Meeting Open Session on ICD Projects (May 2023)

Implementation and Capacity Development Projects