First meeting of the Organising Committee of the International Plant Health Conference

Rome, 24 March 2022 – The Organising Committee of the International Plant Health Conference held its first meeting today to lay the groundwork to deliver the first edition of the important event. Dr. Jinguyan Xia, Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division (FAO), opened the meeting recalling the great success of the International Year of Plant Health 2020, and how this Conference, the soon to be announced International Day of Plant Health, amongst others, exemplify the success of IYPH. Dr. Osama El-Lissy, the newly appointed IPPC Secretary, delivered his opening remarks underlining the importance of such an initiative for the entire IPPC community, especially in advancing the IPPC work as well as the implementation of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020 – 2030. Both speakers expressed their gratitude to the United Kingdom for the commitment to host the first International Plant Health Conference (IPHC) in London, from 21 to 23 September 2022.

The IPHC Organising Committee appointed Prof Nicola Spence, head of the National Plant Protection Organization of the United Kingdom, as Chairperson. The group discussed the overall Conference themes and programme, some preliminary financial considerations as well as defining the best way forward to deliver a successful event. The IPHC Organising Committee appointed ad-hoc working groups to work on details associated with conference programme, logistics, and communication and outreach.