The United Nations has designated May 12th as International Day of Plant Health to foster comprehensive global understanding of the importance of preserving plant health to combat hunger, poverty, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and economic progress.
Plants play a pivotal role in upholding the vitality of our planet and the well-being of humanity. Our sustenance and the quality of the air we breathe depend on healthy plants. However, despite their profound significance, plants face formidable challenges at present. Annually, a staggering 40% of food crops succumb to the detrimental effects of pests and plant diseases, resulting in devastating consequences for agriculture, exacerbating global hunger, and seriously impacting the livelihoods of rural communities. Moreover, climate change and human activities have caused shifting ecosystems and diminished biodiversity, creating an ideal breeding ground for pests. In the face of these crises, societies must strive diligently to safeguard plants, thereby improving the welfare of individuals and the environment.
On World Plant Health Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has outlined five specific goals:
- Increase awareness of the importance of maintaining plant health to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
- Campaign to minimize the risk of spreading plant pests through trade and travel by ensuring compliance with international plant health standards.
- Strengthen monitoring and early warning systems to protect plants and plant health.
- Enable sustainable pest and pesticide management to maintain plant health while protecting the environment.
- Promote investment in plant health innovations, research, capacity development and outreach.
The theme for the 2024 World Plant Health Day, as determined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is “Plant Health, Safe Trade, and Digital Technology.” Under this theme, the FAO urges global citizens, particularly the youth, to prioritize plant health, food safety, and secure trade to foster sustainable economies and livelihoods.
In commemoration of this significant day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will host a hybrid event on May 13, 2024, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
