The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has called for "bold and urgent action" to protect plant health.

At a meeting of the FAO's Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-19) - which began yesterday (Monday, March 17) in Rome, Italy - FAO director-general Qu Dongyu said that plant health is critical in achieving food security, biodiversity and sustainable agri-food systems.

"Healthy plants are the foundation of productive farms and strong rural livelihoods. Yet pests and the spread of invasive species destroy up to 40% of global crops, costing the global economy over $200 billion each year," Qu said.

According to the FAO director-general, changing environmental and weather conditions are altering the movement of plant pests into new regions.

"Harsh climate events further alter the movement of pests and diseases to new areas, with more, and destructive, diseases that are transboundary," he said.

The FAO has allocated $500,000 for this issue in its work and budget programme for 2026 to 2027.

The funding will be used to strengthen the implementation of international standards, training and innovation through the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the FAO said.

The CPM-19 meeting is set to focus on adopting new international phytosanitary standards, which will include a new standard which will provide guidance on mitigating pest risks associated with the movement of wood.

The meeting will also feature the launch of the IPPC Plant Health Campus, a global e-learning platform aimed at strengthening plant health capacity world-wide.

This platform will provide free, high-quality courses for national plant protection organisations and plant health professionals, equipping them with essential knowledge on pest surveillance, risk assessment, and safe trade practices, the FAO said.

CPM-19 will also see the launch of a report on the role of digital plant health certification in making global trade more secure and efficient.

According to Qu, digital plant health certification - or 'ePhyto' - has "ensured that currently approximately 20% of international trade in plant-based products is now conducted more efficiently and securely, benefiting both exporters and importers".

The FAO director-general commented: "Protecting plant health is essential, not only for agriculture but for human, animal and environmental health."