DAFM eZINE / 15
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANT HEALTH 2020 (IYPH 2020) BACKGROUND The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has nominated 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health. The International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) has been created to raise global awareness around plant health and how crucial plants, trees and forests are to our existence. Protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, boost economic development, protect the environment and support and enhance biodiversity. In this regard it is vital that we protect our horticulture, amenity/landscape and forestry sectors. Human activity and climate change have altered ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and creating new niches where pests and diseases can thrive. International travel and trade have tripled in scale in the last decade and can be responsible for the spread of pests and diseases around the world.
PROTECTING PLANTS, PROTECTING LIFE The FAO slogan for IYPH is “Protecting Plants, Protecting Life.” Plants are crucial to the world’s ecosystems and biodiversity. They are essential for human survival. Plants make up 80% of the food we eat and they produce 98% of the oxygen we breathe. Plants are also crucial to the global economy with the annual value of trade in agricultural products estimated at €1.5 trillion. The key messages for IYPH are; ●K eep plants healthy to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals ●B e careful when bringing plants and plant products across borders; Don’t Risk It! ●M ake trading in plants and plant products safe by complying with the international plant health standards ●K eep plants healthy while protecting the environment ● I nvest in plant health capacity development, research and outreach.
40
AS PART OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANT HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT STAFF HAVE BEEN BRINGING THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE OF PLANT HEALTH TO TRADE EVENTS SUCH AS THE RECENT IHNSA TROLLEY FAIR AT KELLYS NURSERIES.
IYPH AND IRELAND The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have been organising events to mark this prestigious year. Some of these events have been postponed due to the Covid 19 public health emergency. DAFM’s main priority is ensuring that the critical food supply chains remain open and to facilitate ongoing imports and exports of food and at the same time, protect the plant health status of the European Union. DAFM will be arranging events more events for later in the year and if you would like to get involved in any of our events or organise your own event please visit our website: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/dontriskit/ internationalyearofplanthealth2020iyph2020. If you wish to contact us regarding IYPH please email: iyph2020@agriculture.gov.ie
COVID-19 Covid-19 is a major public health emergency. It’s having a big impact on the way we live our lives, the way our communities come together, and the way we do our business. Find out about the supports available to help you and your business get through this Public Health crisis, please go to www.gov.ie. ✽
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Spring 2020
