Regional Solidarity Strengthened as FAO and IPPC Conclude Plant Health Workshop in Oman

The 2025 IPPC Regional Workshop for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of Oman, concluded today in Salalah after four days of intensive discussions and technical sessions.

Held under the theme “The Importance of Plant Health under the One Health Approach”, the workshop brought together national plant protection organizations, regional experts, and international partners to advance regional cooperation, strengthen phytosanitary systems, and address emerging threats to plant health and food security.

Key Achievements and Outcomes

The workshop achieved significant progress in multiple areas critical to regional plant health. Participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) under consultation, providing valuable feedback on standards, including the international movement of fresh banana and taro fruit, the establishment of pest-free areas for fruit flies, and field inspection guidelines. These standards form the foundation for national phytosanitary legislation, facilitating safe international trade while protecting plant resources.

The workshop culminated in a set of regional recommendations that reflect the region’s collective priorities and technical insights, ensuring that NENA voices are effectively represented in international standard-setting.

Strengthened regional collaboration was a cornerstone achievement, with representatives from 18 IPPC contracting parties participating, including Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and the UAE

One Health Integration

The workshop's theme emphasized the critical importance of integrating plant health within the One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Participants explored how plant health serves as a first line of defense in disease prevention and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This aligns with the growing global recognition that plant health must be fully integrated into One Health frameworks to address complex challenges effectively.

Technical Advances and Capacity Building

Significant focus was placed on capacity development and implementation tools, including updates on the IPPC ePhyto, the IPPC Plant Health Campus, and Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluations (PCE). The workshop also addressed emerging challenges, including the impacts of climate change on plant health, safe trade facilitation, and global coordination initiatives such as the management of Fusarium TR4, which poses significant threats to banana production worldwide. Participants also explored the NENA Plant Health Strategy (2025–2035) and discussed regional standards for certified propagation materials for key crops, including date palm, olive, and citrus.

Collective Voice of the Region

Delegates emphasized that the regional consultation process empowers countries in the NENA region to articulate a unified voice in global plant health governance, ensuring that their priorities and realities are effectively reflected in international standards and policies.

The workshop underscored the importance of regional solidarity in addressing transboundary plant pests and diseases. Delegates emphasized that coordinated action and shared expertise are crucial for safeguarding agricultural production, facilitating safe trade, and building resilient food systems.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Participants expressed their gratitude to the Government of Oman for its warm hospitality and support in successfully hosting this event. They also extended their thanks to FAO, the IPPC Secretariat, and NEPPO for their ongoing technical assistance.

Dr. Thaer Yaseen, Regional Plant Protection Officer at the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa and Head of the FAO Mission in Oman, affirmed that “the successful conclusion of the workshop once again reflects the region’s commitment to protecting plant resources, ensuring food security, and facilitating safe agricultural trade. The outcomes of the workshop will further support the broader missions of the IPPC, FAO, and NEPPO in safeguarding plant resources from pests, promoting safe trade, and advancing sustainable development.”

The workshop recommended the need to enhance the active participation of countries in the region in the meetings of the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) of the International Plant Protection Convention, and to develop a joint annual action plan to discuss the region’s priorities in plant health. It also emphasized the importance of reviewing the mechanisms for funding regional workshops to ensure transparency and fairness, and called for the IPPC Secretariat to clarify the standards for translating IPPC materials into other languages. The recommendations stressed supporting the efforts of the Near East Plant Protection Organization in developing and formulating regional and international standards, and developing a network of accredited national laboratories in the field of plant health. The workshop also urged countries to join the electronic phytosanitary certification system (e-phyto) and to implement the national capacity evaluation tool, while mobilizing the necessary financial and technical resources through FAO technical cooperation programs and donor agencies. The recommendations highlighted the importance of developing national systems for certified propagation materials, and raising community awareness by organizing activities for the International Day of Plant Health, with continued regional consultation to ensure the region’s voice is represented in international policies and standards.

The workshop was organized through a strong partnership among the IPPC Secretariat, the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, the FAO Subregional Office for North Africa, NEPPO, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman. This collaborative approach demonstrates a firm commitment to strengthening regional action in the field of plant health.