FAO Regional Webinar: Achievements, Insights, and Recommendations from the RPW Eradication Programme in NENA

Background

The Red Palm Weevil (RPW), recognised as one of the most destructive pests of date palms worldwide, has significantly impacted agricultural sustainability, food security, and rural economies in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. Its rapid spread and the difficulty of early detection have made it a challenge for national plant protection systems, jeopardising not only the productivity and long-term viability of date palm plantations but also endangering the cultural and economic heritage that is deeply interwoven with palm cultivation throughout the region. In response to this critical threat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), through its Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE), launched a comprehensive regional eradication programme.  The RPW Eradication “GCP /RNE/012/MUL” is a five-year programme designed to support and enhance national and regional capacities for the sustainable management of the RPW across the NENA region. Co-funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Sultanate of Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the programme aimed to consolidate scientific knowledge, harmonise phytosanitary measures, and promote the adoption of science-based innovative management strategies to mitigate the devastating impact of RPW on agriculture, ecosystems, and rural livelihoods. The programme focused on three major thematic areas: i) Research; ii) Capacity development, and iii) Transfer of knowledge and technology.

As the RPW programme officially concluded on 30 April 2025, this regional webinar will serve as a strategic platform to present its key achievements, unveil its final suite of knowledge products, and foster dialogue on sustaining and scaling up its outcomes within the broader framework of the NENA Plant Health Strategy.

The Webinar Objectives

• Highlight the key achievements and regional impact of the FAO RPW Eradication Programme.
• Present the outcomes of the FFS assessment on RPW IPM adoption in NENA.
• Share main findings and lessons learned from the project evaluation.
• Showcase the final knowledge products (manuals, guidelines, awareness materials).
• Discuss strategic recommendations and explore future directions within the NENA Plant Health Strategy.

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