How the IPPC Implementation and Capacity Development Committee is helping shape the future of plant health innovation

Rome, 28 May 2026. Innovation in plant health is often linked to artificial intelligence, digital certification systems or advanced surveillance technologies. However, discussions at the May 2026 meeting of the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) highlighted a broader perspective. Innovation is not only about new technologies, but also about how countries cooperate, strengthen capacity and translate global standards into action.

During the meeting held from 18 to 22 May 2026 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, in-coming and out-going IC members, technical experts, representatives of regional organizations and development partners discussed the evolving and complex challenges undermining the ability of national plant protection systems to effectively implement international plant health standards and how innovative strategies, strong collaboration and new technologies provide concrete solutions.

Supporting countries to implement plant health standards is coordinated through the IPPC Secretariat’s Implementation and Facilitation Unit (IFU). The IFU also supports the implementation of five of the eight Development Agenda Items (DAIs) of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020–2030. During the meeting, the IFU presented updates on its activities in these priority areas, including support to Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems (POARS), the IPPC ePhyto Solution, the IPPC Plant Health Campus, climate change activities, phytosanitary capacity development projects and implementation support initiatives.

Highlighting the need to consider innovation as more than just a technological issue, participants emphasized that need for countries to develop scalable, accessible and adaptable solutions to address resource gaps, staffing constraints and limited access to digital tools.

The meeting also featured a virtual session on “Innovation in phytosanitary capacity development”, where organizations including the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), Committee Linking Entrepreneurship-Agriculture-Development (COLEAD), the World Bank, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), TradeMark Africa and others, shared experiences on digitalization, surveillance, training and trade facilitation.

The IC as a driving force for stronger phytosanitary systems

Discussions highlighted the IC’s growing influence in driving implementation and capacity development; operating at the intersection of policy, technical advisory, training and operational support. The Committee’s expanding strategic role is helping countries navigate complex issues such as climate change, emerging pests, e-commerce pest pathways, electronic certification and systems approaches for trade.

Participants noted that implementation challenges result from difficulties in translating technical advice into effective on-the-ground action, rather than lack of guidance. To address these challenges, the IC strengthens linkages between standard-setting, implementation guidance, e-learning tools and practical field experiences.

One example is the continued expansion of the IPPC Plant Health Campus, which will be launched in Spanish in the coming weeks. The Campus continues to attract strong interest, particularly in courses on emergency preparedness, pest response and simulation exercises—and is increasingly used by universities and national authorities to support professional training.

Finally, the meeting underscored the value of the IC as being more than a technical committee, but also a platform for connecting standards, implementation, partnerships and capacity development into a more coherent global phytosanitary system.