First IPPC Webinar on Fall Armyworm prevention generates global interest

Rome, 9 December 2020. The IPPC Secretariat organized the first webinar on Fall Armyworm (FAW) prevention to launch its three-year work plan under the framework of the FAO Global Action for FAW control. The webinar brought together experts from FAO, the IPPC Secretariat, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), the Near East and North Africa Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO) and the Pacific Plant Protection Organization (PPPO), along with national phytosanitary authorities, academia and private sector representatives.

Mr Jingyuan Xia, Director of the FAO Plant Protection and Production (NSP) Division, opened the event and welcomed over 280 participants connected from all over the world from over 75 countries. He presented the FAO Global Action implementation plan, highlighting the key role and responsibility of FAO and the IPPC Secretariat, and the coordination mechanisms put in place by FAO to implement the three-year programme at the global, regional and national levels.

Mr Avetik Nersisyan, Officer in charge for the IPPC Secretariat, presented the two established bodies that will coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the FAO Global Action’s prevention pillar: the FAO/IPPC Technical Working Group on Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures, chaired by Mr Chris Dale; and the IPPC/Regional Plant Protection Organizations Task Force, chaired by Mr Arop Deng.

Ms Sarah Brunel, vice chair of the FAO/IPPC FAW TWG, presented the work undertaken by the TWG on the development of global and harmonized guidelines on FAW prevention and preparedness, which will be released next year. She also announced that training activities and events will be organized in the next semester to validate the guidelines in 21 target countries around Europe, Near East and North Africa, and the Pacific regions. She invited all to consult the dedicated International Phytosanitary Portal webpages at https://www.ippc.int/en/the-global-action-for-fall-armyworm-control/.

Updates on the status of FAW in those key regions were given by Mr Mekki Chouibani, NEPPO Director; Mr Visoni Timote, PPPO Executive Secretary; and Mr Valerio Lucchesi, EPPO representative, who also highlighted risk mitigation strategies and challenges faced at the regional level. Ms Mariangela Ciampitti, Mr Nilesh Ami Chand, Mr Hichem Assess, provided updates on FAW prevention strategies and contingency plans put in place by Italy, Fiji, and Tunisia respectively, to prevent FAW introduction in those areas. Mr Tek Tay and Ms Alison Watson, FAO-IPPC TWG members, highlighted key actions and priorities set by academia and industry to help countries reduce the risk of FAW further spread.

Further information on the webinar, including the in-session questions and answers, is available at the following link: https://www.ippc.int/en/the-global-action-for-fall-armyworm-control/fall-armyworm-faw-prevention-under-the-framework-of-fao-global-action-on-faw-control/