The FAO Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), a key body aimed at reducing the risks posed by plant pests and diseases that threaten agriculture and livelihoods and harm our ecosystems, has convened to discuss additional measures to halt their spread.

"The consequences of uncontrolled outbreaks of pests and diseases are extensive and can cause irreversible damage to ecosystems, trade, and global food supply," said QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in his opening speech at the 18th session of the Commission.

The CPM is the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), which meets annually to assess the global state of plant health and review progress in achieving the Convention's objectives. In 2023, the IPPC welcomed the Federal Republic of Somalia as the 185th contracting party to the multilateral treaty.

Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Plant Pests

Changing weather patterns and rising temperatures worldwide have altered the geographical distribution and intensity of plant pests and diseases. This makes the work of the CPM to facilitate international cooperation and exchange of information on early detection, rapid response, and coordinated control efforts indispensable, emphasized Qu.

An example of a destructive plant disease is caused by the fungus Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4). The extensive damage it causes to banana crops was highlighted at the Fourth Global Conference of the World Banana Forum, recently hosted by the FAO. Exacerbated by the impact of climate change, yield losses due to TR4 affect over 400 million farmers, producers, and rural households relying on this staple crop.

The IPPC works together with FAO to assist banana-producing countries in combating TR4. The IPPC Secretariat coordinates global efforts to prevent the entry and spread of TR4. In addition to raising awareness about TR4 and conducting simulation exercises in different countries, the IPPC has developed a guide for the prevention, preparedness, and efficient management of TR4.

A New Program

At COP28, FAO launched the "Global Roadmap to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) Without Exceeding 1.5°C". One of the action areas identified in the Roadmap is crop protection using integrated pest management to reduce dependence on chemical products. FAO's Director-General emphasized the significant contribution made by FAO initiatives to the CPM's work on managing the impact of climate change on plant health.

Among the agenda items at this week's CPM meeting will be positioning the IPPC within the One Health approach, which brings together international organizations working in the fields of plant, animal, and human health.

Additionally, participating countries are expected to adopt amendments to phytosanitary standards, including criteria for determining the host status of fruits for fruit flies, requirements for establishing pest-free areas, and cold treatment for a pest called the codling moth.

Furthermore, the CPM is expected to approve the Phytosanitary Program in Africa, designed to empower national governments and stakeholders with the scientific evidence and latest technology needed to effectively manage plant pests of regulatory, environmental, and economic importance.

The IPPC ePhyto solution has proven that safe trade can be expedited through digital phytosanitary certification. By December 2023, over five million (5,000,000) ePhyto certificates had been successfully exchanged by 88 active user countries, while the total number of registered countries increased to 128.

While there is a strong global focus on food safety and animal health standards to ensure food security, "we must remember that it all starts with plant health standards," said the FAO Director-General, describing them as "bulwarks" against the impact of plant diseases and pests. (Photo: Dreamstime)