PRESS RELEASE: International Day of Plant Health 2026 spotlights plant biosecurity as a foundation for global food security

Rome, 12 May 2026 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), marks the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) today with a high level event and interactive exhibitions at FAO headquarters in Rome, highlighting the critical role of plant biosecurity in ensuring food security, nutrition, safe trade and environmental protection.

Organized by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the International Day of Plant Health is observed annually on 12 May to raise global awareness on the importance of plant health and to promote actions that protect plants, people and the planet.

Designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022, the Day builds on the momentum of the International Year of Plant Health (2020) and responds to a growing global challenge: up to 40 percent of food crops are lost annually to plant pests and diseases, causing more than USD 220 billion in crop losses. As plants provide 80 percent of diets and 98 percent of the oxygen humans breathe, protecting plant health is essential to sustaining life on Earth.

This year’s theme, “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security and Nutrition”, underscores how strong biosecurity systems prevent harmful pests, diseases and invasive species from entering or spreading across borders, thus safeguarding agrifood systems, protecting biodiversity and supporting resilient livelihoods. FAO defines plant biosecurity as a strategic and integrated approach for analyzing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health.

A global call for stronger plant health systems

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stated via video message, “Plant health protection requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, with shared responsibility across industry, transport, researchers, farmers and consumers, supported by clear regulations, awareness, and enforcement. Investing in plant biosecurity is a practical choice. It supports food security, protects trade and strengthens economic resilience. On this International Day of Plant Health, I urge leaders to place plant health at the heart of national development strategies”.

Successful case studies in Brazil, Mexico and the United States, as well as research and innovation initiatives from the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT were highlighted during the event to show how effective pest surveillance and response systems have protected valuable crops and food supplies.

“Managing plant pests and disease is challenging”, said Lynda Blanchard, Ambassador, United States Mission to the United Nations Agencies. “The US champions science so we know what we are doing, and innovation so we can do it better. The US is engaged abroad and ready at home”, she added.

Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Mexico to the United Nations Rome-based Agencies (RBAs), noted, “On this International Day of Plant Health, Mexico reaffirms that protecting plant health is essential to ensuring nutritious, resilient, and accessible food systems for all”.

Tatiana Gomes Bustamante, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to FAO, IFAD and WFP, echoed Qu’s belief that plant health is a shared responsibility. “It requires cooperation across borders, as well as collaboration between governments, producers, researchers and international organizations”, Bustamante said.

Yurdi Yasmi, Director of FAO Plant Production and Protection emphasized, “The strong call to action from FAO leadership is an inspiration and an impetus to sustain the momentum, to innovate and to drive results in protecting plants”.

Enrico Perotti, IPPC Secretary, stressed in his closing remarks that plant health must move beyond policy discussions and be translated into concrete action on the ground. He recalled that up to 40 percent of global crop production is lost each year to pests and diseases, with severe consequences for farmers’ livelihoods, food security, and the environment. “Each year, pests and diseases destroy a significant share of global crops, affecting farmers, families, and ecosystems,” he said, emphasizing that protecting plant health is a shared responsibility. He called for collective action – from policymakers to scientists, farmers, travellers, and citizens – to turn knowledge into practice and ensure lasting protection for food systems, the environment, and future generations.

FAO urges governments, development partners, the private sector and the public to invest in plant health initiatives, strengthen phytosanitary systems and adopt responsible behaviors that reduce the spread of pests and diseases.

Protecting plant health is essential to achieving FAO’s Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – and to building resilient agrifood systems capable of feeding a growing global population.

Interactive exhibitions: Learning by doing

From 12–14 May, FAO will host a three part exhibition in the FAO Atrium designed to engage staff and visitors in hands on learning about plant health:

• Mock airport security screening – Demonstrating the risks of transporting fruits, seeds and plant products across borders, and featuring campaigns such as European and Mediterranean Plant protection Organization (EPPO)’s “Don’t risk it” and European and Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s #PlantHealth4Life.
• FAO in action – Showcasing the meaning of the ISPM 15 stamp, FAO’s work on transboundary pests, and the role of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) in safe trade.
• Italy’s sniffer dogs – A popular attraction returning from FAO’s Seeds to Foods exhibition, demonstrating innovative detection methods used to prevent pest introduction from Ente Nazionale Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI).

In parallel, the FAO Museum and Network (MuNE) Food Lab is hosting the exhibition “Protecting maize, protecting life”, running from 27 April to 13 May, featuring cultural artifacts on maize cultivation and consumption loaned by the Institut Culturel du Mexique in Paris. A cooking demonstration by a Mexican chef will follow the high level event on 12 May.

Media contact:

Mutya Frio
Strategic Communications Specialist
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) [email protected]

About FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s objective is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO works to transform agri-food systems by promoting sustainable production and consumption, including protecting the world’s plants to achieve global food security. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide and has 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union.

About IPPC

The IPPC is an international treaty ratified by 185 countries, aiming to protect the world's plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests, and promoting safe trade. International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), developed under the auspices of the IPPC, assist countries in implementing national phytosanitary standards and import requirements. The IPPC, deposited at FAO, is the sole global standard-setting entity for plant health.