FAO calls for strengthened plant health and innovation to safeguard the future of global food supply

At the opening of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat’s Global Workshop on Systems Approaches, the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rene Orellana Halkyer, called for stepped-up efforts in plant health and sustainable agricultural production to safeguard the foundation of global food security amid rising risks.

The IPPC Global Workshop on Systems Approaches: Advancing Understanding and Implementation of Integrated Measures for Pest Risk Management is organized by FAO, in its capacity as Secretariat of the Convention, together with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Agricultural and Livestock Service of Chile (SAG), and the Plant Health Committee of the Southern Cone (COSAVE). The workshop is a key forum for strengthening global plant health capacity and facilitating the safe trade of plants and plant products.

The event was inaugurated by Chile’s Minister of Agriculture, Ignacia Fernández Gatica, who underscored that this space will enable the exchange of experiences related to Systems Approaches. She also highlighted Chile’s current protocols for exporting products such as cherries, blueberries, and kiwis to different markets, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to protecting its national phytosanitary heritage.

For his part, FAO Regional Representative Rene Orellana Halkyer noted that “Plants provide 80 percent of the calories we consume and produce 98 percent of the oxygen we breathe. However, their health is increasingly threatened by biotic and abiotic risks, while global demand for food, feed, fiber and biofuels continues to rise.”

Global estimates indicate that food production will need to increase by 50 percent by 2050, with around 80 percent of this additional demand coming from plant-based products. However, up to 40 percent of global agricultural production is lost each year to pests and diseases, resulting in economic impacts exceeding USD 220 billion.

Enrico Perotti, IPPC Secretary, stated: “This workshop represents a fundamental step toward harmonizing phytosanitary measures worldwide. By promoting systems approaches, we are empowering countries to maintain plant health while facilitating safe, sustainable, and less restrictive trade.”

Systems approaches are strategies based on the successive application of diverse measures that, when combined, provide solid protection against the introduction and spread of pests in international trade.

Over the course of five days, more than 100 representatives from national and regional plant protection organizations, government entities, and the private sector will exchange technical knowledge, practical tools, and international experiences to enhance the implementation of these measures.