CABI, in collaboration with Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), AU InterAfrican Phytosanitary Council (AU IAPSC), EUPHRESCO Network Office organized a consultation workshop on Phytosanitary Research in Africa to share information on successes and best practices on phytosanitary research.
Euphresco III is a global network of organizations involved in plant health research funding, research implementation, and policy- making, seeking to develop, coordinate, fund, and conduct phytosanitary research to inform policy. The network aims to strengthen the coordination of national and regional phytosanitary research programs, primarily focusing on statutory plant health (emerging and regulated pests). Globally, phytosanitary research coordination has been identified as a key strategic activity within the IPPC Strategic Plan 2030 (Agenda 7) and within the AU-IAPSC Plant Health Strategy for Africa (2022-2036).
Workshop objectives- Map the current status of phytosanitary research in Africa
- Validate phytosanitary research priorities
- Identify challenges and opportunities for funding phytosanitary research
- Co-create a roadmap for phytosanitary research collaboration in Africa
22/08 Mapping Phytosanitary Research Needs for Africa
- CABI, acting as the regional champion for Africa under the EUPHRESCO III project, is spearheading efforts to map phytosanitary research needs across the continent, with the goal of establishing a coherent and strategic regional research agenda.
- This entails conducting surveys among National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) and research institutions to identify current and emerging phytosanitary research priorities. The collected insights will inform the design of a regional phytosanitary strategic plan, which will align with and contribute to the development of a global research framework.
- CABI will also leverage its Global Agricultural Research Archive (GARA) to disseminate vital information—including journal articles, workshop proceedings, success stories, and research reports—to enhance coordination and knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
22/08 Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP)
- The Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), led by the IPPC Secretariat in collaboration with the FAO and the African Union, is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening plant health systems across Africa through modern scientific and digital tools.
- Launched in September 2023, the pilot phase engaged 11 countries—Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—and provided tailored training, tablet-based geospatial surveillance tools, and pest survey protocols to enhance early detection and rapid response to phytosanitary threats
- By 2025, APP entered its second phase, expanding to eight additional countries and conducting Train-the-Trainer workshops—most recently held in South Africa—to build a broader continental network of skilled phytosanitary officers equipped to monitor pests, support food security, and facilitate compliant trade
22/08 Recent Initiatives from APAARI in Plant Health Research and Innovations in Asia
- The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) has recently advanced several initiatives in plant health research and innovations to strengthen regional biosecurity, sustainable agriculture, and food system resilience.
- These efforts include promoting the use of biological control agents and agroecological practices to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, enhancing early warning and surveillance systems for invasive pests, and fostering digital innovations such as ICT-enabled pest diagnostics and knowledge platforms.
No comments:
Post a Comment