Egypt Hosts 2026 FAO-IPPC Regional Workshop to Strengthen Plant Biosecurity and Protect Food Security in the Near East and North Africa

Egypt is hosting the 2026 FAO-IPPC Regional Workshop for the Near East and North Africa, bringing together plant health experts and representatives of national plant protection organizations from across the region to strengthen cooperation and advance efforts to protect plants, agricultural production and food security.

The four-day workshop, taking place from 7 to 10 September in Cairo, is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, represented by the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ).

Held under the theme “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security,” the workshop provides a regional platform for countries to exchange technical knowledge and good practices, discuss emerging plant health challenges, and strengthen cooperation on phytosanitary measures and plant biosecurity.

“Egypt is pleased to host this important regional workshop, which reflects our commitment to strengthening plant health and enhancing cooperation with countries of the Near East and North Africa. Protecting our agricultural resources from plant pests and diseases is a shared responsibility, and closer coordination among countries is essential to safeguard agricultural production, support farmers and ensure the sustainability of our agricultural sector,” said HE. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The workshop comes at a time when plant pests and diseases continue to pose significant risks to agricultural production, natural resources and rural livelihoods. Effective plant biosecurity and phytosanitary systems are essential to prevent the introduction and spread of pests, protect agricultural resources and facilitate safe international trade of plants and plant products.

“Protecting plant health is fundamental to safeguarding food security, livelihoods, biodiversity and safe agricultural trade. In a region facing increasingly complex and transboundary plant health challenges, stronger regional cooperation and coordinated action are essential. This workshop provides an important opportunity for countries of the Near East and North Africa to share knowledge, strengthen capacities and work together towards more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems,” stressed Abdulhakim ElWaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.

For his part, the Head of the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), Dr Mohamed El-Mansy stated: “Plant quarantine serves as the first line of defense in protecting national plant resources and ensuring safe agricultural trade across borders. Hosting this regional workshop in Cairo underscores Egypt's commitment to aligning efforts with National Plant Protection Organizations across the region, implementing International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), and enhancing pest risk management to effectively mitigate transboundary plant health threats while facilitating safe international trade”.

Advancing regional cooperation on plant health

During the workshop, participants will review and discuss draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and related documents currently under consultation. The discussions will also support the development of coordinated regional comments for submission through the IPPC Online Comment System.

“This regional exchange is one of the greatest strengths of these workshops. It ensures that solutions are grounded in local realities and that countries learn from one another’s innovations and challenges,”.

“Your feedback is vital – standards are only as strong as the global experience and scientific expertise behind them,” said Enrico Perotti, IPPC Secretary.

Participants will receive updates on IPPC standard-setting, implementation and phytosanitary capacity-development activities, while exchanging national experiences, technical knowledge and good practices.

The workshop will also provide an opportunity to identify emerging plant health priorities and capacity-development needs across the region and explore opportunities for enhanced regional collaboration and coordinated responses to transboundary plant health challenges.

Protecting agriculture and food security

Plant biosecurity is an essential component of resilient agrifood systems. Preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests helps protect crops and natural resources, reduce economic losses, safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and support the availability of safe and nutritious food.

For the Near East and North Africa, where countries face shared and transboundary plant health challenges, stronger collaboration among national plant protection organizations, FAO, the IPPC Secretariat, NEPPO and technical partners is critical to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response, and to support more resilient agrifood systems across the region.