FAO and regional experts advance a common assessment framework for pesticide management in the Near East and North Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened the first virtual meeting of the Regional Technical Panel on Pesticide Regulation and Biocontrol Alternatives, bringing together national experts from across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region to initiate technical work under the NENA Plant Health Strategy 2025–2035.

Pesticides remain an important component of crop protection systems. However, ensuring their effective management requires sound regulatory frameworks, strong implementation mechanisms, and measures that minimize risks to human health and the environment.

Across the region, countries face different technical, regulatory, and institutional challenges in managing pesticides, underscoring the need for a clearer understanding of national capacities and priorities.

Developing a regional evidence base for pesticide management

The Regional Technical Panel on Pesticide Regulation and Biocontrol Alternatives is one of five expert panels established to support implementation of the NENA Plant Health Strategy 2025–2035. The panel brings together 29 nominated experts from 13 countries to examine regional priorities and contribute technical recommendations to strengthen plant health systems.

A key focus of the meeting was the presentation and discussion of a proposed baseline assessment framework for pesticide management systems. The framework is intended to provide participating countries with a structured approach for assessing existing capacities, identifying technical and regulatory gaps, and highlighting priorities for improvement.

Unlike assessments that focus primarily on the existence of legislation or institutions, the proposed framework seeks to examine how pesticide management systems function in practice. It explores countries' capacities to implement regulatory requirements, oversee pesticide use throughout their lifecycle, manage associated risks, and promote safer pest management approaches.

The assessment covers a range of technical areas, including pesticide registration and regulation, pesticide lifecycle management, risk reduction measures, integrated pest management (IPM), and biological control alternatives. The process combines country inputs with technical review and expert discussion to identify common challenges while recognizing differences in national contexts and needs.

“A robust assessment of national pesticide management systems is essential for identifying technical, regulatory and operational priorities,” said Yosra Ahmed, Agriculture Specialist (Plant Protection and Production) at the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa. “By generating comparable baseline information across countries, the proposed framework will support evidence-based planning, strengthen regional cooperation and help target future capacity development efforts where they are most needed.”

Informing regional priorities and future action

The panel's work contributes to the regional implementation mechanism established under the NENA Plant Health Strategy 2025–2035, which provides a common framework for regional cooperation, capacity development, and the prioritization of plant health interventions.

The next phase of work will include sharing the assessment framework with participating countries, collecting national inputs, and conducting technical analyses of the results. Findings will be reviewed by the panel to identify common challenges and priorities that can inform regional action.

The results are expected to contribute to the development of the Regional Plant Health Action Plan by identifying areas where technical assistance, knowledge exchange, capacity development, and coordinated regional initiatives can respond to demonstrated national needs.