May 12 @ 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (East Africa Time)
Healthy crops are vital for a healthy planet. However, agrifood systems are increasingly challenged by devastating pests and diseases due to climate change, international trade and travel, and weak phytosanitary systems. Recent analyses show that the greatest losses from pests and diseases are associated with food-deficit regions with fast-growing populations. Farming communities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, continue to struggle against existing and emerging crop pests and diseases. Each year, these threats represent a 10 to 40 percent loss in major food crops, and they cost the global economy an estimated US$220 billion. In addition, mycotoxins pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of consumers, with negative impacts on agriculture, trade, and human health.
In 2022, the United Nations designated May 12 as the International Day of Plant Health to raise global awareness on how plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. The International Day of Plant Health is a key legacy of the International Year of Plant Health in 2020.
CGIAR Plant Health Initiative (PHI) webinar
The CGIAR Plant Health Initiative (PHI), launched in January 2022, works closely with national, regional, and international partners to bridge knowledge gaps for plant health management, including improved diagnostics and surveillance, integrated pest and disease management, and mycotoxin management in several countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The PHI team will host a webinar on May 12, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (East Africa Time) to commemorate the 2nd International Day of Plant Health. Stakeholders from diverse organizations will briefly present how to best strengthen plant health management capacity in the Global South.
This is a hybrid event held virtually via Zoom and in-person at select CGIAR centers.
How can I join? Register here.
