Plant Production and Protection

Launch of the Community of Practice on drivers of emerging plant and animal pests and diseases, including zoonotic spillover

Virtual Event, 12/05/2025

12 May 2025 | 14:30 – 15:30 CEST | Online 

Join us for the launch of a new One Health Community of Practice on drivers of emerging plant and animal pests and diseases, including zoonotic spillover.

This Community of Practice will bring together experts and practitioners from across sectors to explore the factors accelerating the emergence, spread, and transmission of plant and animal pests and diseases.

The Community of Practice will be a collaborative space for:

  • Exchanging experiences and evidence on plant and animal pest and disease drivers
  • Mapping these drivers across diverse national and ecological contexts
  • Co-developing strategies for prevention, monitoring, and informed decision-making
  • Strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration to advance the One Health approach


Agenda 

14.30 - 14.40 

Opening remarks

Thanawat Tiensin (FAO), Assistant Director General, Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) Director and Chief Veterinarian 

Chikelu Mba (FAO), Deputy Director, Plant Production and Protection (NSP) Division   

14.40 - 14.50 

Launch of the Community of Practice on Drivers of Emerging plant pests and animal diseases, including zoonotic spillover 

Lina Awada (FAO), One Health Knowledge Nexus project coordinator, NSA 

Kassahun Wondim (FAO), Coordinator of the Community of Practice on Drivers of Emerging plant pests and animal diseases, including zoonotic spillover, NSA

14.50 - 15.00 

Drivers of emerging zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-environment interface 

Yu Qiu (FAO), Animal Health Officer, NSA, One Health and Disease control branch 

15.00 - 15.10 

Case study: Efforts and lessons on addressing drivers of major plant pests in Africa 

Lava Kumar, Plant Virologist (IITA), Head of Germplasm Health Unit /International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) 

15.10 - 15.20 

International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) tools for addressing drivers of plant pest outbreaks: Capacity evaluation and outbreak alert system 

Camilo Beltran Montoya (FAO), International Plant Protection Convention Secretariat, NSP

15.20 - 15.25 

Discussion with all participants 

Moderated by Lina Awada (FAO), One Health Knowledge Nexus project coordinator, NSA

15.25 - 15.30 

Closing remarks 

Fazil Dusunceli (FAO), Agricultural Officer, NSP

Zelalem Tadesse (FAO), Senior Animal Health Officer, NSA, One Health and Disease control branch 

This Community of Practice is a part of the One Health Knowledge Nexus, a dynamic online platform led by FAO and supported by the Quadripartite collaboration on One Health.

Following the launch event, participants are invited to join the International Day of Plant Health hybrid event.