FAO- NEPPO Regional Meeting on “Strategies for prevention, early detection and control of Red Plam Weevil”

Background

Red Palm Weevil (RPW, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is a key transboundary pest of date, coconut, and ornamental palms that originates from South Asia and is rapidly spreading throughout the world. In the Near East, RPW is causing widespread damage to date palms, which impacts production, farmer livelihoods, and the environment. RPW is a quarantine pest in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) countries as well as in Latin America, and it is the object of emergency measures in the European Union. Weak quarantine measures and difficulties in the early detection of RPW-infested plant materials have contributed to its rapid spread. RPW has not been effectively managed despite the efforts and resources provided by countries and organizations. There is broad recognition that RPW challenges must be addressed urgently at national, regional, and global levels, and enhanced solidarity and cooperation between countries and regions is required to harmonize monitoring and control strategies.  

FAO developed the regional Trust Fund program for RPW eradication in the NENA region as one of the most affected regions. The RPW eradication “GCP /RNE/012/MUL” is a five-year project that aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts for the eradication of the RPW in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. The project is designed to develop the necessary strategies, plans, tools, and technologies to assist NENA countries in sustainably managing the RPW through three major thematic areas: i) research, ii) capacity development, and iii) transfer of knowledge and technology.

The FAO RPW Eradication program identified some common gaps and challenges in most national policies and regulatory systems explaining the failure to control RPW. Among those identified gaps/challenges are illegal/unregulated movement of infested palms within the country and between countries; lack of knowledge by stakeholders of the national phytosanitary legislation on RPW; lack of availability of trustful/certified palms (certified nurseries) within the countries; and poor implementation of phytosanitary (quarantine) measures for the movement of planting materials. In addition, inadequate protocols and certification for the export/import of ornamental and exotic palms; and the lack of specific regulations/guidelines on phytosanitary measures to regulate the palm trade, especially at the entry points undermine the effective control of RPW. 

The Rationale of the Workshop

Long-distance dissemination of many pests/pathogens occurs mostly via propagative material. Certification of plant propagation material, one of the key elements supporting the quarantine strategy, is today the only way to prevent the detrimental effects of some pests/pathogens. There is a need to develop guidelines for establishing commercial date palm nurseries put in place a system for date palm nurseries’ registration and certification and support the establishment of facilities for the production of tissue culture palms.

In 2021, the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa (FAORNE) signed a letter of Agreement (LoA) with the Near East Plant Protection Organization “NEPPO” to provide certain services and perform some activities under the framework of the FAO’s project on RPW Eradication in the NENA Region (GCP/RNE/012/MUL (650076). This included drafting, publishing, circulating, and disseminating:

• Guidelines for phytosanitary measures to prevent the spread of Red Palm Weevil
• Guidelines for a certification scheme for Propagating Materials of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

The need for organizing the regional meeting was brought up following:

• The Session of “Integrated Management of RPW – Follow-up evaluation meeting for Project outputs (16th Session Awards 2024 – Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agriculture Innovation). Abou Dhabi 26-27 February, 2024).
• Publication of two articles in The Special Issue of the Journal “The Blessed Trees”. Vol No.16 – Issue No2 / February 2024.
  1. Guidelines for phytosanitary measures to prevent the spread of Red Palm Weevil
  2. Certification Scheme for Propagating Materials of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Workshop Objectives

• Promote regional cooperation among participating countries.
• Share the outputs and updates of the FAO’s program on RPW Eradication in the NENA Region
• Disseminate the latest information obtained in the Agreement NEPPO-RNE-FAO under the FAO’s project on RPW Eradication in the NENA Region (GCP/RNE/012/MUL (650076).
• Present the state-of-the-art technologies in countries of the region: country experiences in monitoring, early detection, and control of RPW.
• Present the regulations and guidelines for the movement of infested palms within the country and between countries.
• Improve the knowledge of stakeholders on the national phytosanitary legislation of RPW.
• Enhance the implementation of phytosanitary (quarantine) measures for the movement of planting materials.
• Improve the final protocols for the production of certified date palm propagation materials.
• Formulate harmonized control strategies and common action plans for RPW.
• Organize a technical visit: a field action on ornamental palms, practical measures in place. 

Workshop Approach

The regional meeting is scheduled to take place as an in-person meeting, with a two-day scientific program (in Arabic) including the technical visit from 25 to 26 June 2024. 

Organization and partners

• The Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO), Organizer.
• Regional Office for Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE) – Egypt
• Subregional Office for North Africa (FAO-SNE) – Tunisia
• Ministry of Agriculture Water Resources and Fisheries, General Administration of Plant Health and Agricultural Input Control (DGSVCIA)-Tunisia. 

Target Participants

• A round of 25- 30 participants will attend the meeting. NEPPO will invite 12 NEPPO member countries to nominate one participant. The nominated participant should have a role and direct involvement in RPW monitoring, surveillance, and management in the RPW-affected areas in his/her country.

Expected Outcomes of the Workshop

• The outputs of RPW FAO regional programs in Governance, Monitoring, research & innovation, Capacity building, and Coordination) are disseminated.
• The national strategies for managing RPW are improved and the spread of the RPW to new areas is limited.
• Cross-country experiences are exchanged.
• The latest innovations and research in RPW management are shared.
• The Guidelines for phytosanitary measures to prevent the spread of Red Palm Weevil is explained
• Certification Scheme for Propagating Materials of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is described 
  

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