Riyadh, SPA: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Regional Workshop for the Near East and North Africa 2023, titled "Plant Health for Environmental Protection".
The four-day workshop is organized by the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa) in cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regional office for the Near East and North Africa.
The IPPC Secretariat, FAO representatives and several Saudi and international organizations concerned with the protection of plant resources are taking part in the workshop held in Al-Qassim Region to discuss the latest developments in the field of plant health and possible interventions to prevent the introduction and spread of pests across territories, to ensure better food production and safer cross-border trade.
In the opening remark yesterday, Weqaa CEO Ayman Al-Ghamdi stressed Saudi Arabia's commitment to protect plant resources and crops from pests, cooperate with all countries of the Near East and North Africa region to improve plant health and productivity, and implement measures to minimize the impact of pests on food security, trade, economic growth, and the environment.
He also underlined the importance of organizing this regional workshop annually, as it provides a platform for plant health experts to discuss phytosanitary issues and share knowledge and best practices that help come up with innovative solutions to plant diseases and avert food insecurity in the Near East and North Africa region.
IPPC is an international treaty for protecting plant resources (including forests, aquatic plants, non-cultivated plants and biodiversity) from plant pests and for facilitating safe trade through common and effective action to prevent the spread of plant pests and to promote appropriate measures for their control.