SPOTLIGHT: Know your job and be kind. Osama El-Lissy’s message as he retires from the IPPC

Osama El-Lissy is retiring as Secretary of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), an Article XIV body of FAO. He spoke to us about his career, dedication to plant health and involvement in global efforts to protect plant resources from pests.

What motivated you to join the IPPC?

Its noble mission - safeguarding plants, agriculture and natural resources against plant pests and facilitating safe trade.

Reflecting on this mission and considering the global food security crisis, with nearly 800 million people facing hunger in the world, it became clear to me that I should support and contribute to fulfilling such a noble mission. I felt that my long career and experience in controlling and eradicating plant pests could help contribute to reducing their impact on agriculture and trade in plants and plant-based commodities.

Plant pests destroy 20-40 percent of crops annually, including food crops. Reducing these losses could significantly increase food availability, helping to address food insecurity.

What are some of the highlights of your time at the IPPC?

Reflecting on my inspiration to join the IPPC, some of my most positive and memorable experiences involve witnessing how the 185 IPPC Contracting Parties responded to our proposed initiatives to address plant health challenges. In their collective wisdom, the IPPC community and Contracting Parties recognised the problems and had a clear understanding of the necessary actions. Consequently, they responded positively to initiatives such as the global phytosanitary programme and the expansion of the IPPC ePhyto Solution to more countries.

What do you consider the biggest challenge to global plant health today?

The world is large and diverse, making it challenging to consistently implement plant health standards. It’s a significant challenge to bring the world to the same level of capacity of the plant health infrastructure necessary to implement the standards or fulfil the IPPC mission.

The positive aspect though is that the world acknowledges this challenge and is committed to tackling it. While it’s a significant challenge, recognising it gives us hope to address it. Countries have varying levels of capacity and infrastructure, and we need to bridge existing gaps and to improve capacities to effectively fulfil our collective mission.

What should be done then to address this challenge?

Understanding and finding potential solutions to plant health challenges requires practical implementation of the various policies, strategies, goals and objectives. It’s one thing to write down ambitious strategies and goals, like eradicating hunger, it's another to actively carry out the steps cited in the strategy to fulfil the objectives. Implementation of any strategy requires a well-thought-out and practical operational plan.

Reflecting on the Global Phytosanitary Programme, starting with the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), the focus is on implementation. Through APP, the IPPC is taking the implementation of plant health standards to an entirely different level. APP is bringing together all scientific tools necessary to proactively conduct surveys, adequately identify pests, and contain, suppress, or eradicate them. In essence, APP serves as the delivery mechanism for global policies, the SDGs, the Strategic Framework with the four betters and regional plant health strategies.

Systematic monitoring of programme implementation and measuring results are paramount to the effectiveness and success of strategies and programmes. For instance, if we aim to reduce pest impact, we must be able to measure the level of pest infestation and yield losses before and after programme implementation. Implementation remains the core challenge. Addressing the varying levels of capacity across the globe can significantly help in implementing such important initiatives.

What will you miss about your job?

I will definitely miss the people. Having the best strategies and ample resources is ineffective without talented, experienced and dedicated people.

In my humble experience as IPPC Secretary, I’ve been very moved by colleagues within the secretariat. Everybody here is willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work and do their best to fulfil the mission. Witnessing this has motivated me to do even more.

When we seek support from Contracting Parties, their prompt and positive response is another thing that I admired. During my travels, the national plant protection organizations made significant efforts to arrange meetings with ministry and agency leaders to ensure successful outcomes. This showcases the remarkable power of collective effort, which I believe in deeply.  

Key lessons learned throughout your career

First, you must know your business or your craft. Whether you are an accountant, entomologist, or communications professional, you must be well-informed and up-to-date with developments and practices in your field. And then strive to be the best by continuously learning.

Secondly, you must get to know people. Understand how to engage and respond to people, recognising their unique communication styles and needs. This includes respect, support, and treating people fairly.

Finally, the one be is to be kind. Kindness isn’t just about being nice. It's about treating yourself and others with compassion, even in difficult situations.

I’ve tried to follow these principle throughout my career and I find it helpful.

What’s next?

I’ll go home to the United States of America, rest, reflect and decide on the next chapter of my life and career. I try not to predetermine that. The world is full of opportunities. It’s a matter of choosing the right opportunity at the right time.

Any messages for the IPPC community and FAO?

There is only one IPPC and one FAO in the world. When considering the mission of FAO as a technical organization of the UN, and the mission of the IPPC, we should always reflect on these noble missions. We must continually ask ourselves what actions are necessary to effectively fulfil these missions.

The world depends on FAO and the IPPC to fulfil their missions. It’s essential to continually assess and enhance the systems and structures in place to achieve their goals. Despite significant progress, ongoing challenges require persistent efforts and dedication from all involved to ensure these missions are fulfilled. We must be ready to take the necessary steps and measures.