SPOTLIGHT: Zambia, steadfast champion for plant health and the Africa Phytosanitary Programme

Posted on Tue, 14 May 2024, 13:04

With plant pests and diseases becoming more severe, causing significant crop production and economic losses worldwide, impacting food security and affecting safe trade, the role of national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) as competent national authorities and vanguards of plant protection …

SPOTLIGHT: Leaving the old, embracing the new: Uganda’s success with ePhyto

Posted on Mon, 13 May 2024, 07:33

Agriculture is the lifeblood of Uganda’s economy. Seven in 10 Ugandans are employed in agriculture. Agriculture is responsible for 24 percent of Uganda’s income. Agricultural trade contributes 33 percent to the country’s export earnings.

Over the years, Uganda has made …

SPOTLIGHT: IPPC ePhyto Solution supports Argentina’s paperless export trade

Posted on Mon, 13 May 2024, 07:26

In 2009, Argentina decided to adopt electronic phytosanitary certification of agricultural products to facilitate faster and safer trade with other countries, in a more accurate and timely manner. The country’s officials had also received information from stakeholders involved in trade, …

SPOTLIGHT: Building a resilient plant health system in Senegal

Posted on Wed, 24 Apr 2024, 11:28

In the last decade, Senegal has achieved notable success in the development of its phytosanitary systems, thanks to its participation in various national and international initiatives. This progress has contributed to substantial cereal production in the country and increased volume …

SPOTLIGHT: IPPC promotes science and technology to save mango production and trade in Mali

Posted on Fri, 15 Mar 2024, 07:44

Moustafa Coulibaly and his family have been involved in mango production for about 50 years. Coulibaly and his brothers are part of a group of 15 farmers operating a four-and-a-half-hectare mango orchard in N’toubana locality, Koulikoro region of south-western Mali. …

Strengthening International Safe Trade: Collaborative Efforts of IPPC and WTO under the SPS Agreement

Posted on Mon, 04 Mar 2024, 14:05

In the intricate web of international trade, ensuring the successful flow of goods while protecting trade against risks to plant health requires strong partnerships. At the heart of this enterprise lie two crucial entities: the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) …

SPOTLIGHT: Q&A with Gabrielle Vivian-Smith

Posted on Mon, 19 Feb 2024, 07:38

On 11 February, the world commemorated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an opportunity to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. In this edition of On Profile, we feature …

SPOTLIGHT - Rethinking and strengthening: Kenya's approach to its phytosanitary system

Posted on Wed, 07 Feb 2024, 13:52

Plant pests pose significant threats to sustainable crop production, agricultural productivity, food security and the livelihoods of millions of people. Through people’s movement and international trade of agricultural products and commodities, pests can be introduced into new territories where they …

SPOTLIGHT: Empowering plant health: guidelines for field inspection

Posted on Fri, 02 Feb 2024, 13:34

Members of the Expert Working Group on Field Inspection, representatives of host country, IPPC Secretariat, Standards Committee (SC) and Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC)

For decades, plant pests have been persistent adversaries of agriculture worldwide, posing threats to plant …

SPOTLIGHT: IPPC e-learning courses promote excellence in international phytosanitary work

Posted on Wed, 31 Jan 2024, 14:45

January 24 marked the United Nations Day of Education, a global observance of the essential role of education in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In its work of protecting plant resources from pests, the International Plant Protection Convention …

SPOTLIGHT: How IPPC-led phytosanitary capacity evaluation strengthens countries’ ability to handle plant pests

Posted on Fri, 22 Dec 2023, 12:50

For centuries, plant pests have been among the biggest threats to sustainable crop production, agricultural productivity, food security and livelihoods of millions of people. Today, the pest problem is just as devastating, or even worse, thanks in part to global …

SPOTLIGHT: Q&A with John Hedley

Posted on Fri, 22 Dec 2023, 12:00

Back in 1989, John Hedley was one of the pioneers who developed the first International Standard for Phytosanitary Measure (ISPM). A former Chair of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), John’s contribution to the IPPC spans decades. His dedication since …

Spotlight: Francisco Gutierrez from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority speaks about the importance of IPPC’s guides and training materials

Posted on Thu, 19 Oct 2023, 11:22

As a spotlight feature for this month, we speak to Francisco Gutierrez, Technical Director of the Plant Health Department of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation facilitator and Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) lead for the IC …

SPOTLIGHT: Building resilience against Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) in Africa

Posted on Mon, 16 Oct 2023, 08:17

In recent years, the global plant health community has been on high alert due to the rapid spread of plant pests and diseases like Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) that threaten vital crops. Fusarium TR4 can cause banana crop losses …