CPM Focus Group on Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid Concludes in Barbados

Bridgetown, 15 October 2024. The CPM Focus Group on Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid concluded its first in-person meeting since CPM-18 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The meeting, organized by the IPPC Secretariat with support from the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD), the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), and the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Barbados, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to address the critical issue of phytosanitary risks in humanitarian aid.

Building on CPM-18 Outcomes

This meeting followed the decision by CPM-18 to extend the Focus Group’s mandate until 2026, reflecting the international community’s recognition of the importance of addressing the risk of plant pests in humanitarian aid deliveries. As highlighted during the discussions, humanitarian aid can unintentionally introduce pests, leading to long-term impacts on agriculture, the environment, and local economies. The extension allows the group to continue developing critical guidelines and International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) to ensure aid supplies do not compromise plant health in vulnerable regions.

The meeting featured participation from the Barbados Defense Force, the Barbados Department of Emergency Management, the FAO Subregional Office for Caribbean, the Caribbean Disaster Response Technical Working Group of the CPHD, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

Nelson Lavill e (Commonwealth of Dominica), the newly selected Chairperson of the Focus Group expressed his gratitude for the continued international cooperation in this critical area, "The Caribbean has been severely impacted by natural disasters in recent years, with Hurricane Maria in 2017 causing catastrophic destruction in Dominica, and significant damages estimated at $1.37 billion. As Chairperson of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) forum, through our Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO), the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), we are acutely aware of our region's vulnerabilities to natural disasters, which require periodic humanitarian aid. Disaster relief efforts, essential for saving lives, can inadvertently introduce invasive pests, causing long-term economic, environmental, and social impacts. Recognizing this, our RPPO, CAHFSA, is committed to supporting the development of this vital ISPM to mitigate these risks effectively."

Key discussions and outcomes

Throughout the week, the focus group worked on addressing comments from the IPPC community regarding the draft specification for a potential ISPM, which provides guidelines for managing the risk of plant pests in humanitarian aid. This draft is being prepared for presentation at CPM-19 in 2025.

Michael James, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer of Barbados NPPO, remarked "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Services salutes the hard work of the focus group in handling this important but sensitive topic. The ministry whole heartedly supports the scope and intentions of this proposed standard as it has implications for countries like ours in this Caribbean region who are not only vulnerable to a number of natural disasters, but, due to their tropical climates and rich biodiversity, will allow for the establishment of pests which may inadvertently move with or in humanitarian aid. Reducing the risk of such events is as important as delivering this much needed aid during the aftermath of emergencies.” In addition, the group developed a concept note for a webinar planned for early 2025 to raise awareness of the phytosanitary challenges posed by humanitarian aid and to promote international cooperation in tackling these risks, considering the adopted CPM Recommendation R-09 on this topic. Participants also shared case studies on pest introductions through humanitarian aid, helping to shape future preventive strategies.

Given the Caribbean region's heightened vulnerability to natural disasters, discussions also focused on strengthening regional and national emergency responses to build resilient phytosanitary systems and prevent pest introductions during crises.

Sophie Peterson, Vice-Chair of the Focus Group, also echoed the importance of collaboration, stating "Through collective efforts and a shared vision, we have laid the groundwork for a future ISPM that will address urgent humanitarian needs while promoting sustainable plant health practices."

In addition to the ongoing work on the ISPM, the group is preparing communication and advocacy materials, with a focus on educating stakeholders and building international awareness of the issue. With the objective to build a strong network from international organizations such as WOAH, CODEX, WFP, and FAO, the Focus Group is set to develop an action plan that will guide future efforts to prevent the spread of pests during emergency relief operations. Adriana G. Moreira, IPPC Deputy Lead to the Standard Setting Unit, highlighted the important role of international efforts in making tangible progress and expressed optimism about the future, "As we move forward, I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to drive positive change and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations around the world."

Field visit to Walkers Reserve

As part of the meeting, participants had the opportunity to visit Walkers Reserve, a highly regarded sand mine restoration site in Barbados. This field trip offered valuable insights into the power of ecological restoration, demonstrating how innovative conservation efforts can successfully rehabilitate ecosystems affected by environmental degradation, contributing to the well-being of surrounding communities.

© Barbados NPPO and Barbados Defense Force - IPPC CPM focus group on Safe Provision of Food and other Humanitarian Aid at their field trip to Walkers Reserve in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Related information:

BLOG: Plant health standards and the safe delivery of food and humanitarian aid

Dialogue strengthens on plant pest risks to food and humanitarian aid - International Plant Protection Convention (ippc.int)