A comprehensive resource on the three locust species in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) has been published to support improved knowledge and management in the region. The guidelines are available in English, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, and Turkmen, ensuring that stakeholders can access the information in their local languages.

Countries in North and West Africa are coordinating their response to the anticipated desert locust threat in the summer of 2025. According to predictions by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ecological conditions in certain breeding areas may be conducive to swarm formation.

Cooperation at all levels, together with effective funding, are critical in the fight against transboundary pests and diseases (TPPDs), which each year destroy up to 40 percent of the world’s crops, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu noted today as he marked the International Day of Plant Health.

For generations, wheat has been the backbone of life in Central Asia and the Caucasus. But wheat rusts—a collection of airborne fungal diseases with poetic names like yellow, leaf and stem—has become an intensifying threat across the region. Find out how FAO is working with partners to tackle the threat.

Plants are not just a backdrop to human and animal life – they are central to the health of our entire planet. In the One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants and ecosystems, plant health is a vital but often underrecognized pillar. Here's why plant health is critical.

The trials, carried out in Oman, highlighted the drones' effectiveness in achieving precise pesticide distribution, particularly in rugged areas that are challenging to access with conventional methods. This represents a significant advancement in adopting modern technology to improve control efficiency and reduce the environmental impact, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional pesticide application techniques.

Discover the drivers behind emerging plant and animal pests and diseases, including zoonotic spillovers. Join on 12 May for the launch of a new Community of Practice under the One Health Knowledge Nexus – a global platform for experts, practitioners, and policymakers from all sectors to exchange knowledge and advance the One Health approach.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is urging countries in Northwest Africa to enhance monitoring and initiate early control measures as adult desert locust groups and small swarms - originating from the Sahel - moved into southern Sahara in the Western Region of the desert locust distribution area.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is leading efforts to safeguard the future of banana production by supporting countries in combating Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV). These diseases pose a serious threat to agricultural investments and the livelihoods of farmers, as bananas are a vital source of income for millions of smallholder farmers worldwide. 

Like many other tropical countries, Kenya faces fall armyworm infestations, with maize crops recording high levels of infestations during the growing season. The FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme conducted a refresher training to equip Kenya’s plant protection officers and extension officers with skills and tools to manage fall armyworm sustainably.