Across the world, climate change is shifting the delicate balance that keeps plants – and everything they support - healthy. As temperatures rise, rains become less predictable, and extreme weather strikes more often, plant pests and diseases are spreading in ways not seen before. 

Discover how early warning systems are helping spot plant health threats before they become crises - protecting crops, animals, ecosystems, and countless communities across the world. 

In the vast steppes and fertile fields of the Caucasus and Central Asia, what looks like a shimmer on the horizon can be the beginning of disaster: locusts - winged, ravenous, and relentless.

Each year, enormous flocks of red-billed quelea birds sweep across sub-Saharan Africa. Though each bird is small, together they can wipe out entire fields of sorghum, millet, rice and wheat within hours. 

A diverse group of scientists, researchers and international experts convened to share knowledge and exchange ideas aimed at developing innovative approaches for sustainable locust management. The workshop, themed “Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Locust Management”, examined research outcomes in advanced techniques to improve preventive control strategies, safe alternatives for locust management, and the impacts of climate change on locusts and their behaviour. 

Discover how agroecology works with nature to help protect plant, animal, human, and environmental health – making it a powerful tool for One Health.

Through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme, farmer field school (FFS) facilitators in Kenya were equipped with knowledge and skills in using FAMEWS digital tool to monitor fall armyworm (FAW) infestations. These facilitators guide and support farmers in conducting field experiments, collecting accurate FAW data, and applying predictive models to make informed decisions for their fields.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat - but its link to plant health is often overlooked. Antibiotics and fungicides used in crop production may contribute to resistance. Neglecting this connection leaves a critical gap in AMR mitigation efforts.

A simulation exercise was recently conducted in Bolivia to improve emergency preparedness for a potential outbreak of the South American locust. The resurgence of the South American locust, currently impacting Argentina and Paraguay, has put Bolivia on high alert due to the risk of swarm migration into its territory. Simulation exercises are a crucial tool in plant health emergency preparedness. 

The world’s most traded fruit faces a growing threat. FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division hosted a seminar to review challenges and chart the path forward against Fusarium wilt TR4.