Riyadh, September 4, 2023, The "Plant Health for Environmental Protection" Regional Workshop for the Near East and North Africa of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023. The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa), in collaboration with the FAO regional office for the Near East and North Africa, is hosting the four-day course. In order to discuss the most recent advancements in plant health and potential interventions to stop the introduction and spread of pests across borders, better food production, and safer cross-border trade, a workshop is being held in the Al-Qassim Region. The IPPC Secretariat, FAO representatives, and several Saudi and international organizations concerned with the protection of plant resources are taking part.
Weqaa CEO Ayman Al-Ghamdi emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to protecting plant resources and crops from pests in his opening remarks yesterday. He also emphasized Saudi Arabia's cooperation with all nations in the Near East and North Africa region to improve plant health and productivity. Finally, he outlined steps Saudi Arabia will take to reduce the negative effects of pests on food security, trade, economic growth, and the environment.
Additionally, he emphasized the value of holding this regional workshop on an annual basis because it gives plant health specialists a forum to discuss phytosanitary issues and exchange knowledge and best practices that contribute to the development of novel plant disease treatments and the prevention of food insecurity in the Near East and North Africa region.
An international treaty known as IPPC aims to protect plant resources, such as forests, aquatic plants, non-cultivated plants, and biodiversity, from plant pests as well as promote appropriate control measures. It also aims to facilitate safe trade through coordinated efforts to stop the spread of plant pests.
