Healthy plants, healthy planet: The key to One Health success

Rome, 4 October 2024. Delegates at a side event during the 29th Session of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Agriculture (COAG), raised the importance of increasing awareness and knowledge sharing about the crucial role of plant health in the One Health framework for managing interconnected human, animal and environmental health risks. During the session titled: Plant Health: Why is it crucial for the success of One Health? participants called for further integration of phytosanitary issues into the One Health approach, highlighting the potential global, regional, and national-level impacts on agricultural production, food security, economic growth, and sustainable development.

The One Health approach recognizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health and mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities to collaborate in addressing the health threats associated with this interconnectivity.

“Plants do not only provide foods – they play a crucial role in the livelihoods of millions of farmers,” said Yurdi Yasmi, Special Coordinator of the Plant Production and Protection Division at FAO, outlining the importance of plants in his opening remarks. “Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul,” he said, referring to the fact that they provide 98 percent of the air we breathe and hold cultural value.

Although plants provide 80 percent of our food, plant pests and diseases cause about 40 percent of annual crop losses and increase food insecurity. Ensuring plant health is vital for sustaining the foundation of the food chain for human beings and animals and fostering a sustainable environment and global prosperity.

Innovation and practical solutions are key

In her keynote speech, Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, highlighted the active role of FAO and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) – the world's plant health standards setting body –, in collaborating with countries, partners and other stakeholders to promote plant health in One Health.

"Plant Health is essential for One Health... and it needs to be prioritized. FAO and the IPPC remain committed to protecting plant health – but it’s not just about protecting crops… it’s about safeguarding our future," she said.

Bechdol highlighted a few of the major initiatives being implemented by FAO and the IPPC to address plant health in One Health:

• IPPC's first-ever survey on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and resistance to fungicides in the phytosanitary context aims to produce a comprehensive overview of AMR's impact across plant, human, and animal health.
• FAO’s Global Action for Fall Armyworm and other early warning systems track transboundary pests like Desert Locusts and diseases such as Tropical Race 4, helping countries to anticipate and quickly respond to pest outbreaks.
• The Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) uses cutting-edge digital technology and science-based approaches to help countries detect and respond to pest outbreaks more effectively.
• The IPPC ePhyto Solution allows countries to securely exchange electronic phytosanitary certificates, ensuring pest-free import and export of plants, seeds, or agricultural products.

Taking action for plant health and One Health

Members at recent COAG and FAO Council meetings, and the 18th session of the IPPC’s Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), stressed the importance of the One Health Quadripartite engaging more with the IPPC, emphasizing plant health’s role in One Health. The hybrid side event, with over 170 participants from all over the world, highlighted efforts by FAO, its Members, the IPPC, and the plant health community to strengthen human, animal, plant, and environmental health linkages. It was moderated by Sarah Brunel, IPPC Secretariat's Implementation and Facilitation Unit Lead.

Raixa Llauger, Agricultural Officer, FAO Subregional Office for Mesoamérica and Carlos Urias, Plant Health Regional Director, International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA), highlighted Latin America’s global knowledge exchange with Africa, supporting training and conducting simulation exercises to prevent the spread of banana Fusarium wilt disease.

Louisa Makumbe, Acting Head of Zimbabwe’s Plant Quarantine Services presented Zimbabwe’s experience in strengthening the connection between plant health and food safety assessments, particularly through IPPC’s PCE process and the FAO/WHO food control system assessment. Through these processes, Zimbabwe modernized its phytosanitary regulations, developed a national phytosanitary strategy and customized its national training and capacity development plans to strengthen plant health in One Health.

Jeremy Knops, General Delegate, Committee Linking Entrepreneurship Agriculture Development (COLEAD), discussed how COLEAD facilitates partnerships between private enterprises and public regulatory bodies to integrate plant health into the One Health approach, promoting access to food markets and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Thanawat Tiensin, FAO Assistant Director-General, Director of the Animal Production and Health Division and Chief Veterinarian, closed the side event, noting that "by integrating plant health in One Health, we will improve agricultural productivity and resilience, protect our food sources, our economies, our ecosystems and ultimately our futures".

Related information

Side event webcast

COAG 29 Side Event - Plant health: Why is it crucial for the success of One Health?