Thinking about buying plants online? Think again.
When we protect plants,
we protect lives.
#PlantHealthDay
E-commerce has transformed global trade, allowing the purchase of almost anything online, including plants from abroad.
However, this poses a risk of spreading plant pests through postal and courier parcels.
Flowers, seeds, plant parts and soil can carry pests and diseases, threatening food security, biodiversity and international trade.
In 2021, nearly USD 25 trillion in e-commerce sales were generated by businesses in 43 developed and developing economies, representing about three-quarters of the global GDP.
With around 5 000 new parcels generated every second and 436 million parcels moving daily, some may contain plants or plant products that harbour pests, which, if allowed to spread, can significantly affect crops and hamper trade.
How can I help?
Think before you click! Before buying plants online from abroad, understand the plant health requirements in your country (or importing country) to ensure that they will not create a pathway for introducing or spreading plant pests.
Why does protecting plants and crops matter?
Plant pests destroy up to 40 percent of global crops annually. Protecting plants can help:
- Achieve a zero-hunger world
- Reduce poverty and inequality
- Protect biodiversity
- Support livelihoods of rural farmers
- Sustain economies around the world