PURPOSE: Plants are life– we depend on them for 80% of the food we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe; Healthy plants constitute the foundation for all life on Earth, as well as ecosystem functions, food security and nutrition. Plant health is key to the sustainable development of agriculture required to feed a growing global population by 2050. International standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs) in trade help prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests across borders. Recently international travel and trade has been associated with the introduction and spread of plant pests. Invasive pest species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss and threaten the delicate web of life that sustains our planet. Pests and diseases have also been associated with rising temperatures which create new niches for pests to populate and spread. In response, the use of pesticides could increase, which harms pollinators, natural pest enemies and organisms crucial for a healthy environment.

 FORUM: “The importance of plant health in One Health.” International Day of Plant Health 2025. Healthy plants constitute the foundation for all life on Earth, as well as ecosystem functions, food security and nutrition. The aims of the day is to raise global awareness and action towards protecting plant health to help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment and boost economic development. Plants are a source of 80% of the human diet but plant pests and diseases destroy up to 40 percent of global crops every year, setting back efforts to provide food and nutrition to an increasingly hungry world. Pest-infested plants may also harbor harmful pathogens that can be transmitted to animals such as the Bluetoungue virus that affects cattle and sheep, and can cause encaphalities in humans. Unhealthy plants also put fragile ecosystems in danger, affecting biodiversity. The FAO and the IPPC are taking action to develop and implement globally harmonized standards on plant health aimed to prevent the entry and spread of pests through international trade. FAO also promotes sustainable agricultural practices such as integrated pest management and the use of innovation and technology to enhance pest surveillance, response and management to prevent outbreaks. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #PlantDiseases, #biosecurity, #ephyto, #PlantProtection, #PlantHealth, #12May, #PlantHealthDay.

EVENTS: On 12 May 2025, from 14:00 to 15:20 CEST at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, a webinar will be held under the theme,“The importance of plant health in One Health.”, the International Day of Plant Health 2025 calls on everyone to raise awareness and take action to keep our plants healthy and ensure food safety and safe trade for sustainable economies and livelihoods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) are organizing a high-level event to mark the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH). The Day, under the theme “The importance of plant health in One Health”, aims to raise global awareness and action towards protecting plant health to help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment and boost economic development. The high-level event is hosted by OIRSA which also hosts the first 3D technology that simulates management of pest outbreaks, providing a technologically advanced platform that will greatly enhance pest surveillance and response. FAO celebrates its 80th year in 2025 through 365 days of action, of which plant protection is a priority. Marking the International Day of Plant Health is an opportunity to raise awareness on the critical role of plant health in food security and safe trade.  

PUBLICATION: Brush up your knowledge on the topic through a selection of FAO titles highlighting the importance of plant health, and guidance documents on how to Get ready to celebrate the IDPH; Read the 2023 IDPH Impact Report and get the Activity book – Healthy plants, healthy planet!

STATEMENTS: “We need all stakeholders on board,” said Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General through a video message at the opening of the IDPH event. “Governments and donors must invest in implementing standards and in building national plant health systems, legislation and capacities. By prioritizing plant health within the One Health framework, we can create a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come”, he added.
“OIRSA is pleased to partner with FAO and IPPC on this important day”, said Raúl Antonio Rodas Suazo”, Executive Director of OIRSA. “We are committed to achieve our common goal to protect plant health through innovation and technology which we are demonstrating to the world today”, he added.