Launch of IPPC simulation game on pest prevention and response

Rome, 22 October 2025. In a move to revolutionize plant health training, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat and the FAO elearning Academy have launched an online simulation game: Pest emergency simulation: prevent, prepare, respond. This interactive tool is designed to make learning about pest prevention and response more engaging for phytosanitary officers and more accessible to students, exporters and anyone involved in agriculture.

The educational tool was launched on 15 October and exhibited again on 17 October, during the World Food Forum week at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the FAO Office of Youth and Women. The game immerses learners in a simulated pest outbreak scenario using a fictional pest and country. They must make strategic decisions in real-time, navigating the complexities of pest prevention and outbreak response and observing their consequences.

Plant pests destroy about 40 percent of global crop yields and cause an estimated USD 220 billion in trade loss, annually, jeopardizing food security, agricultural production, economic growth and the environment. Pest prevention is therefore a national, regional and global priority and this game empowers relevant actors to prevent and effectively respond to pest outbreaks.

The game has three key stages: prevention, which involves assessing risk and strengthening border controls; preparedness, focusing on review of contingency plans and building capacity and emergency response aimed at taking action when a pest is detected and managing the outcomes. This flow of activities is designed to empower learners to apply phytosanitary principles, strengthen planning and coordination, and improve decision-making under pressure. The game can be played in one sitting of about two hours or can be paused and resumed at a player’s pace. On completion, players can take an online test to receive a certificate that they can share on social media or professional networks such as LinkedIn.

“Prevention is the first line of defence in pest management and the cost of neglecting it can be devastating. However, no system offers complete protection and therefore countries must be prepared to respond rapidly and effectively when pests are detected”, said Enrico Perotti, IPPC Secretary.

The simulation game is part of the IPPC’s wider plant health capacity development efforts and is accessible via the IPPC Plant Health Campus - a free online portal with plant health e-learning courses. The game targets students, early career plant health professionals, staff of national plant protection organizations (NPPOs), exporters, importers and stakeholders involved in the agriculture value chain.

Launching the game during the WFF enabled attendees of the week-long series of events, such as university and high school students, their lecturers and plant health professionals to test it and enhance their awareness and knowledge of pest management actions.

According to Renato, a student from Naples, Italy, the simulation was informative and taught him about the importation and exportation procedures to ensure pest-free products.

“The simulation game is a role-play exercise that helps students to learn what happens in the real world; this enhances their learning and interest in plant health”, said one of the teachers accompanying the high school students .

Sarah Brunel, Lead of the Implementation and Facilitation Unit at the IPPC Secretariat and Cristina Petracchi, Head of the FAO elearning Academy commended the strong collaboration between their teams, which resulted in the launch of an innovative simulation game that will enrich FAO and IPPC's suite of learning courses.

“Our aim is to inspire young people to pursue careers in plant health and to build the next generation of professionals,” said Brunel, envisioning a future where innovation, curiosity, and global collaboration drive a healthier, more sustainable world.

High school students test the game during the World Food Forum week ©FAO/Anita Tibasaaga	(L-R) Sarah Brunel, Lead of the Implementation and Facilitation Unit at the IPPC Secretariat, Andrew Nadeu, Senior Capacity Development Officer at FAO, Cristina Petracchi, Head of the FAO elearning Academy and Preet Parmar- International Phytosanitary Specialist at the IPPC Secretariat at the launch of the game ©FAO/Anita Tibasaaga