Global webinar showcases new IPPC Plant Health Campus to strengthen phytosanitary capacity
Posted on Tue, 24 Jun 2025, 08:13
Webinar speakers and panelists taking part in the event © FAO
A learning platform built for everyone, everywhere
What if every plant protection officer, researcher, or student could access free, high-quality training at their fingertips — anytime, anywhere, even with limited internet? This was the vision brought to life in the global webinar “Grow Your Plant Health Expertise: Discover the IPPC Plant Health Campus,” held on 11 June 2025, moderated by Sarah Brunel, IPPC Officer in Charge for day-to-day matters and Implementation and Facilitation Unit (IFU) Lead.
More than 390 participants from across the world joined the 90-minute session, which introduced the IPPC Plant Health Campus — a multilingual global learning platform developed by the IPPC Secretariat in collaboration with the FAO elearning Academy and with financial support from the European Union.
From vision to impact: the Campus in action
The webinar featured a live demonstration of the platform, showing participants how to access and use its growing catalogue of certified e-learning courses, structured learning pathways, practical tools, and downloadable guides. It also shared early success stories from countries and regions already using the Campus in their phytosanitary capacity development efforts.
“This is not just a platform for training – it’s a catalyst for change,” said Yurdi Yasmi, Director of FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), during his opening remarks. “It empowers countries to build stronger, more resilient phytosanitary systems – even in remote or low-connectivity areas – and brings the IPPC’s global guidance to life.”
Regional and national voices take the stage
A panel of regional, national, and academic leaders explored how the IPPC Plant Health Campus is already strengthening plant health capacity on the ground — from plant protection organizations to academic institutions. “For NPPOs like ours, the IPPC Plant Health Campus is a golden opportunity,” said Temarama Anguna–Kamana, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Cook Islands and CPM Bureau Representative for the Southwest Pacific. “It’s free, easy to use, and designed to support those directly involved in plant protection. It helps us strengthen staff competencies and gives new officers a clear, accessible path to build their skills — wherever they are.” She added: “This kind of access is transformative for small island states like ours. It supports not only capacity building but also helps retain skilled professionals by giving them the tools they need to grow without having to leave their communities.”
Claude Bragard, Professor at the Université catholique de Louvain, emphasized the value of the Campus as a bridge between academic learning and regulatory readiness. “Students today expect more dynamic, applied learning. The IPPC Plant Health Campus equips them with real-world knowledge on international standards and pest risk analysis,” he noted. “It helps universities train future professionals who are ready to contribute effectively to national and international plant health systems.”
European Union underscores its commitment
The webinar concluded with closing remarks from H.E. Martin Selmayr, European Union Ambassador to the Holy See, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the UN Organisations in Rome and the Republic of San Marino. His intervention underscored the strategic value of the Campus and the EU’s commitment to multilateral cooperation.
“We are proud to support the IPPC Plant Health Campus because it reflects the values we believe in,” Ambassador Selmayr said. “It’s about working together across borders toward shared goals. It’s about building competencies, learning from each other, and creating a safer, fairer agricultural world. And it’s about recognising that plant health is essential — for human health, for animal health, for our ecosystems, and for sustainable trade.”
Now available in French
During the event, the IPPC Secretariat announced that the IPPC Plant Health Campus platform is now also available in French — a major milestone for inclusive access and outreach to francophone countries.
Developed under the EU-funded project Strengthening Food Control and Phytosanitary Capacities and Governance, the IPPC Plant Health Campus is freely available to all: