• International travel and trade is making pests and diseases appear in places they have never seen before.
• Pests and diseases have been associated with rising temperatures which creates new niches for pests to populate and spread.
Image: Alice Waithera
Image: FILE
The United Nations has attributed the loss of food crops every year to pests and diseases.
This is affecting food security and agriculture which is the main source of income for vulnerable rural communities, said the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) while marking the International Day of Plant Health on May 12.
In a statement released on Friday, FAO said climate change and human activities are also affecting plant health.
This is altering ecosystems and damaging biodiversity while creating new niches for pests to thrive.
FAO noted that international travel and trade, which has tripled in volume in the last decade, is making pests and diseases appear in places they have never seen before.
“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," the UN agency said.
"In response, the use of pesticides could increase, which harms pollinators, natural pest enemies and organisms crucial for a healthy environment."
It further pointed out the need to keep plants healthy for life on earth as we depend on them for 80 per cent of the food we eat and 98 per cent of the oxygen we breathe.
“Protecting plant health is essential by promoting environmentally friendly practices such as integrated pest management. International standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs) in trade also help prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests across borders,” FAO said.
The UN designated May 12, as the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) to raise global awareness of how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development.
While celebrating the IYPH, the UN called on governments, policymakers and legislators to prioritise plant health and protection, recognising that it is fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG2, Zero Hunger.
“Policies and legislation need to address and prevent pest and disease outbreaks and promote sustainable pests and pesticides management while strengthening monitoring and reporting, and facilitating safe trade,” the statement reads.
“They should ensure compliance with international plant health standards, invest in plant-health innovations, research and capacity development and empower national and regional plant protection organisations.”
The UN urged the general public to be aware of the risks involved in bringing plants and plant products across borders that may harbor pests and diseases.
“We need to be careful when ordering plants and plant products through channels such as e-commerce with postal services that bypass regular phytosanitary controls," FAO said.
"It is important to purchase from reputable companies that provide international phytosanitary certification for the safe trade of plants and plant products."
Farmers were advised to use certified pest-free seeds and seedlings to prevent the spread of pests. They should also do regular monitoring, controlling and reporting the occurrence of unusual pests on their farms.
“Farmers should adopt environmentally friendly pest management practices including those based on biological approaches that do not kill pollinators and use beneficial insects and organisms,” the statement reads.
Image: FILE