The IPPC ePhyto Steering Group and Industry Advisory Group met virtually to advance ePhyto work during Covid-19 pandemic

Rome, 4 June - The IPPC ePhyto Steering Group (ESG) and Industry Advisory Group (IAG) met virtually to promote ePhyto work during Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director General, delivered opening remarks; and Mr Christian Dellis, ESG Chair, and Ms Alejandra Danielson Castillo, IAG Chair, presented welcome addressees, respectively. The opening session was introduced by Mr Jingyuan Xia, IPPC Secretary; and the meeting was chaired by ESG Chair Dellis, with 38 participants present at the meeting.

In her opening remarks, DDG Bechdol noted that the ePhyto “the ePhyto Accomplishment is remarkable. You worked towards a creative solution and it is a success, but I hope this is only the beginning”. She additionally noted that, “The IPPC ePhyto Solution is one example of taking advantage of new technologies to help mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic by ensuring that safe and efficient trade can continue.” DDG also mentioned that she is working on a new private sector partnership strategy for FAO to be adopted in 2020 and that she intends to engage with these two groups again in the future.

Members of the ESG and the IAG provided updates on developments in their respective regions and sectors of trade. The IAG participants included representatives from the grains, cotton, cut flowers, fresh produce, seeds, breeders of asexually reproduced ornamental and fruit varieties, cocoa, hay and forage, and global express companies. Additional observers included the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, and representatives of the wine industry. As one of the topics of the conversation included a discussion the piloting of a means of providing copies of ePhytos to various blockchains being developed, companies which have volunteered to participate in the pilot also were included as observers.