Egypt Hosts National Training under the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) to Strengthen Plant Health and Trade

Cairo, Egypt - The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, inaugurated the National Training Workshop of the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) today at its headquarters in Dokki, Cairo.

The CAPQ, representing Egypt’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), organized the APP training for a total of 40 national plant health specialist to strengthen their capacities in surveillance and early warning systems for different quarantine pests and diseases in Egypt, with the support of the Near East and North Africa Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO) and the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC).

APP is an Africa-wide initiative led by the IPPC Secretariat, with support from NEPPO and AU-IAPSC, designed to enhance the technical capacity oof phytosanitary personnel in all 54b African countries, equipping them with moder scientific approaches and advanced digital technology to enhance pet surveillance, diagnostics, detection, reporting, prevention and recovery from pest outbreaks. Implementation in ongoing in 20 African countries, 11 in the pilot phase- Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe and nine in phase two- Algeria, Cabo Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Liberia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

Egypt’s Leadership in Regional Plant Health Efforts

In his opening speech, Dr. Mohamed Elmansy, Head of the Central Administration, emphasized that this national training marks a significant milestone in Egypt’s ongoing efforts to enhance its phytosanitary capacities and to strengthen surveillance systems that safeguard safe and sustainable agricultural trade. “We take great pride in our partnership with the IPPC and FAO in implementing this ambitious programme, which aims to strengthen the technical capacities of plant health professionals in Egypt and across Africa,” he said.

“Egypt’s hosting of the launch of APP in September 2023 is a testament to its leading role among African nations and its vital contribution to global agricultural trade. The hosting of the first regional Train-the-Trainer workshop for 11 African countries underscored Egypt’s pivotal role in advancing plant health across the continent.”

He noted that the timing of this training coincides with the delivery of Egypt’s first batch of pest surveillance and monitoring equipment, provided by the IPPC Secretariat in cooperation with FAO Egypt, to support ongoing national pest monitoring and early warning systems.

El-Mansy urged the participants to make the best use of the national, regional and international expertise presented in the well-structured agenda, which was put together by IPPC, FAO and CAPQ. He encouraged them to actively participate in the field visit and ensure sustainable operation of APP into the after getting advanced within the pilot phase by pointing more than 366 points for pest surveillance using the advanced GIS technologies provided by APP Hub.

In conclusion, El-Mansy highlighted Egypt’s to play a vital role as a training hub for the African countries.

Speaking on behalf of the IPPC Secretariat, Dr. Arop Deng thanked the Government of Egypt and the leadership of CAPQ for their continued collaboration and commitment to advancing plant health at national and regional levels.

He emphasized the importance of surveillance and pest reporting to meet international phytosanitary standards and that the APP enables countries to comply with global plant health requirements through timely and reliable pest status data.

“Pest prevention and early surveillance are far more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than managing outbreaks,” Dr. Deng said. “By focusing on early detection, we can better protect crops, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity.”

He praised Egypt’s leadership since hosting the first APP launch in 2023, noting that the country has made commendable progress and Egypt’s experts are now transferring their skills nationwide, multiplying the impact of the programme.

The IPPC Secretariat has also provided over 40 tablets preloaded with APP geospatial software and mobile applications to further strengthen pest monitoring and reporting.

“I urge all participants to fully engage in this training and commit to improving pest surveillance for better agricultural production, improved livelihoods, and safer trade. Together, we can build a more resilient and sustainable plant health system for Africa,” he added. On behalf of FAO Egypt, Mrs. Jacquelyn Pinat welcomed all participants and thanked national and international partners for their collaboration in advancing the APP in Egypt.

“It is a great pleasure and honor to join you for the official opening of this important National Workshop on the Africa Phytosanitary Programme,” she said. “We take great pride that Egypt’s NPPO has been selected to host this key activity. The Central Administration of Plant Quarantine, with its long-standing expertise, remains a cornerstone in Egypt’s plant protection system and a strong contributor to regional phytosanitary cooperation.”

Mrs. Pinat highlighted that in recent years, transboundary plant pests have continued to challenge national systems, testing preparedness and response capacities. The Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), she noted, comes as a timely initiative to harmonize efforts across African countries, promote collaboration, and strengthen compliance with international standards under the IPPC framework.

She commended Egypt’s proactive implementation of the APP, launched in September 2023, where nine master trainers were trained and subsequently trained 40 phytosanitary specialists who now lead pest surveillance across Egypt’s agricultural fields.

“This week, from 19 to 23 October 2025, we gather to strengthen one of the most critical pillars of agricultural sustainability — the protection of plants and agricultural resources from quarantine pests,” she said. “Through this workshop, participants will gain new knowledge, share experiences, and strengthen national capacities for pest surveillance, risk analysis, and emergency response.”

Mrs. Pinat concluded by expressing FAO’s appreciation to the NPPO, IPPC Secretariat, and all partners for their commitment to building stronger, more resilient plant health systems in Africa, wishing participants a productive and inspiring week of collaboration and learning.

Taking the momentum of FAO 80th year’s celebrations along with the ongoing preparations for the world food day , Mrs. Pinat highlighted that FAO Egypt Office played a vital role since its establishment to maintain and sustain the plant protection activities including the initiatives where farmers can benefit from.

A Shared Vision for Safer and Sustainable Agriculture

The Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) aims to build stronger, digitalized plant health systems across Africa by enhancing technical capacities, promoting early detection of pest threats, and supporting the harmonization of phytosanitary procedures. Financial support for APP’s pilot phase was from the United States Department of Agriculture and ongoing funding is from the European Commission and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Egypt’s leading role — as the first country to launch the programme — reflects its ongoing leadership in agricultural innovation, regional collaboration, and phytosanitary advancement.

The national training workshop will continue through 23 October 2025, that will be replicated in the next week (26-30 October), with combining classroom sessions with practical field training to equip participants with modern tools and knowledge for effective pest surveillance and early warning.