The IPPC Secretariat’s brainstorming on how to contribute to the international year of plant health in 2020

Rome, 24 January 2020 - During its Annual Meeting, the IPPC Secretariat held a brainstorming session on how everyone can actively contribute to delivering the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) in 2020 through concrete actions. The brainstorming session was facilitated by Mr Jingyuan Xia, IPPC Secretary, and attended by all Secretariat’s staff. Following the briefing on the progress and perspective of the IYPH by Mirko Montuori, all Secretariat’s staff provided many positive inputs on how to contribute to delivering the IYPH.

Firstly, joining the IYPH global communication campaign and assuming the role of an IYPH ambassador have been identified as two simple actions everyone can take to broaden the scope of the year and make plant health a crucial global issue. The IPPC Secretariat also agreed to strengthen its IYPH working group, which will meet regularly throughout the year.

Secondly, the IPPC Secretariat could support contracting parties by providing accurate and in-depth information about any IYPH-related activities and available campaign materials to be circulated among relevant partners, institutions and the public. It could also undertake careful scrutiny of whom to appoint to attend meetings and IYPH-related events globally with aiming to sending the best profile available, which may include administrative and professional staff alike.

Thirdly, the IPPC Secretariat should consider the possibility of translating it into more languages beyond the six FAO official ones, along with other planned communication materials, such as the IYPH Activity Book for Children. Some publications, such as the Activity book, should also be produced the soonest to support the awareness raising initiatives for school age children and youth in languages.

Finally, the Standard Setting Unit is planning to organize relevant activities to promote standard setting work throughout 2020. The Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) will organize an IYPH photo opportunity at their coming May session, with its members wearing national traditional dresses.

“Little drops of water make a mighty ocean”, with these positive words Mr Xia encouraged everyone to fully utilize this lifetime opportunity to actively participate and promote all IYPH activities worldwide. He also called upon the entire IPPC community to work together hand-in-hand to make the IYPH colourful, fruitful and historical.