PlantwisePlus Blog

Contributed by Melanie Bateman, CABI

Dr Rudy Rabbinge giving the keynote address ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano

On Monday 04 April 2016, the 11^th of session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) kicked off in Rome. The meeting began with opening remarks from Mr. Daniel Gustafson, FAO Deputy Director General of Operations, and a hearty welcome to the new IPPC Secretary, Mr. Jingyuan Xia.

In his remarks to the CPM, Mr. Xia described the history of the IPPC, the challenges it seeks to address and the IPPC’s strategy for the next years leading up to 2020. Between now and 2020, each year will focus on a particular theme: “Plant Health and Food Security” for 2016, “Plant Health and Trade Facilitation” for 2017, “Plant Health and Environmental Protection” for 2018, “Plant Health and Capacity Development” for 2019, and “International Year of Plant Health (IYPH)” in 2020. In keeping with this year’s theme, Dr. Rudy Rabbinge of Wageningen University gave a keynote address on Plant Health and Food Security.

Many delegates highlighted the importance of the themes, particularly 2017’s theme of Plant Health and Trade Facilitation. Likewise, there was a great deal of enthusiasm for the prospect of 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health. Many delegates expressed their willingness to volunteer and lend their support to make the IYPH possible.

A webcast of the opening session is available at this link.