Page 9 - AWA Vol.41-No.3

HORTICULTURE

FAO urges bold and urgent action to safeguard plant health

The 19th Session of the Commission One Health approach ensures a holistic
on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-19) response, reducing pesticide use, limit-
opened . bringing together global ex- ing zoonotic disease risks, tackling an-
perts, policymakers, and stakeholders timicrobial resistance, and preventing
for a week of discussions on strength- environmental degradation." He reiter-
ening international phytosanitary stan- ated FAO’s commitment to this approach,
dards, addressing the increasing risks noting that the 29th Session of the FAO
posed by plant pests and diseases, and Committee on Agriculture (COAG) has
advancing digital solutions for safe trade. recommended strengthening the One
In his opening remarks, FAO Director- Health efforts and FAO’s collaboration
General QU Dongyu underscored the with all key partners.
critical role of plant health in achieving FAO Regular Budget for the IPPC in five The session also featured the launch of
food security, biodiversity, and sustain- years. the report “Investing in Trade Digitaliza-
able agrifood systems. “Healthy plants Looking ahead at CPM-19 tion – The Case of e-Phyto”, highlighting
are the foundation of productive farms the growing role of digital phytosanitary
In the coming days, CPM-19 will focus
and strong rural livelihoods. Yet, pests on adopting new international phytosan- certification in making global trade more
and the spread of invasive species de- secure and efficient. The ePhyto Solution
stroy up to 40 percent of global crops, itary standards (ISPMs), including ISPM “has ensured that currently approxi-
costing the global economy over $220 46, the first commodity-specific standard mately 20 percent of international trade
billion each year.” aimed at ensuring safer international in plant-based products is now conduct-
Qu also emphasized the growing impact trade of fresh mango fruit, and ISPM 39, ed more efficiently and securely, benefit-
which provides guidance on mitigating
of shifting environmental and weather pest risks associated with the movement ing both exporters and importers,” the
conditions, which are altering the move- of wood. These standards are expected Director-General said.
ment of plant pests into new regions, to enhance global trade while strength- Next steps
threatening food production and eco- ening plant health protection measures. As FAO marks its 80th anniversary in
systems. “Harsh climate events further October this year, CPM-19 reaffirmed
alter the movement of pests and diseases The Commission will also feature the the global commitment to strengthening
to new areas with more and destructive launch of the IPPC Plant Health Campus, global plant health policies and partner-
diseases that are transboudary,” he said a global e-learning platform aimed at ships. The Director-General invited par-
highlighting that for this reason protect- strengthening phytosanitary capacity ticipants to engage in FAO’s upcoming
ing plan health is essential for human, worldwide. Developed by the IPPC, the First Global Exhibition “From Seeds to
animal and environmental health. platform will provide free, high-quality Foods”, a key event to kick off the World
Recognizing the need for greater invest- courses for national plant protection Food Forum, showcasing the agrifood
ment in plant health, the Director-Gener- organizations and plant health profes- value chain from genetic resources to
al announced that FAO has allocated an sionals, equipping them with essential food production.
additional $500,000 in its Programme of knowledge on pest surveillance, risk as- CPM-19 will continue until 21 March
Work and Budget for 2026-27 to strength- sessment, and safe trade practices. 2025, with further discussions on emerg-
en the International Plant Protection The Director-General also added that ing plant health threats, innovative phyto-
Convention’s (IPPC) implementation of "Protecting plant health is essential – sanitary measures, and global efforts to
international standards, training, and in- not only for agriculture but for human, safeguard plant resources.
novation—the first increase from the animal, and environmental health. The Circle 8 on enquiry card

Beekenkamp Plants inaugurates new greenhouse

for growing outdoor vegetables.
Beekenkamp Plants’ new construction the first pile, the complete glazing of
project on Korte Kruisweg in Maasdijk the greenhouse, the completion of the
has been successfully completed. With- new business facilities, and the office
in six months, the brand-new 4-hectare expansion for Beekenkamp Packaging.
greenhouse for outdoor vegetable culti- Placing the first vegetable plants in the
vation was finished. The first vegetable greenhouse with the new fully auto-
plants are now in the greenhouse, and mated transport system is the crown-
plants have already been delivered ing achievement of this series of mile-
from this new production site—proof stones. Here’s to many more!
of the determination and collaboration Sustainability and energy efficiency
that made this ambitious project a suc- are top priorities at Beekenkamp Plants,
cess! thanks to intensive collaboration with and several advancements have been
With any new construction project, all partners, success was almost guar- made in these areas. Part of the green-
planning is always an exciting chal- anteed. On May 1, 2024, the first pile for house is equipped with a full LED light-
lenge, and meeting the deadline is of- the new facility was driven, demolition ing system, and gas is no longer used.
ten uncertain. This was certainly the of the existing greenhouse began on Instead, heat from other locations is
case during the construction of Beeken- June 1, 2024, and on January 1, 2025, the utilized. Additionally, double and par-
kamp Plants’ new greenhouse. The in- new greenhouse was officially put into tially triple screen systems have been
volved parties considered the timeline operation. installed, allowing fans to redistribute
demanding, and it was even labeled The past six months have marked heat from the upper part of the green-
‘unrealistic’ several times. However, several key milestones: the driving of house. Circle 9 on enquiry card

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