FAO Convenes Regional Experts to Strengthen Plant Health Systems and Safeguard Crop Heritage in the Near East and North Africa

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE) convened a high-level side event on 24 March 2026 to advance plant health systems across the region. The event brought together senior officials, technical experts, and regional partners to promote coordinated action against transboundary plant pests and diseases and to safeguard crop heritage and agrobiodiversity.

Held on the margins of the FAO Near East Regional Conference (NERC), the event was organized in collaboration with FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO), the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the Arab Society for Plant Protection (ASPP).

Addressing growing plant health risks

The NENA region hosts rich agrobiodiversity and valuable crop genetic resources that are essential for food security, rural livelihoods, and cultural heritage. However, increasing climate variability, expanding trade, and the spread of transboundary plant pests and diseases are placing these resources under significant pressure. Gaps in surveillance, early warning systems, diagnostic capacity, and institutional coordination continue to limit effective responses, particularly affecting smallholder farmers.

Advancing a regional plant health strategy

To address these challenges, FAO-RNE is promoting a Regional Strategy on Plant Health as a framework to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response capacities. The strategy is being implemented through the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP/RAB/4008) on transboundary plant pests and diseases, in partnership with regional and national stakeholders.

The strategy focuses on:

• Strengthening regional coordination and sharing of information
• Enhancing national capacities in surveillance, diagnostics, and integrated pest management
• Supporting sustainable and evidence-based management of plant health risks 

Expert dialogue and knowledge exchange

The event featured opening remarks by Abdelhakim El Waer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, who highlighted the importance of plant health as a foundation for resilient agrifood systems. A keynote presentation by Thaer Yaseen, Regional Plant Protection Officer, outlined FAO’s regional approach and priority actions to protect agrobiodiversity and strengthen plant health systems. A panel discussion brought together experts from partner organizations to address key issues, including phytosanitary harmonization, early warning systems, regulatory challenges related to biopesticides, and lessons learned from major plant disease outbreaks.

Key outcomes and next steps

The event generated a set of practical recommendations to accelerate implementation of the regional strategy, including identifying priority investment and technical needs, strengthening regional collaboration and knowledge exchange, enhancing surveillance, diagnostics, and regulatory frameworks, and promoting access to sustainable pest management solutions. Interactive polling conducted during the session provided additional insights into priority gaps and investment areas, helping to inform future FAO programming. 

Contributing to FAO strategic priorities

The event contributes to FAO Regional Priority on food security and healthy diets and supports the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031. It also reinforces the implementation of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger and Climate Action.