International Day of Plant Health  2025 – May 12

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) is observed globally on 12 May to raise awareness about the critical role of plant health in securing food security, supporting biodiversity, and promoting sustainable economic development.

• This international observance emphasizes the growing need to protect plants against threats like pests, diseases, and climate-related impacts.
• 12th May 2025 marks the observance of the 4th IDPH.

Theme:

The theme for IDPH 2025 is “The Importance of Plant Health in One Health”. It underlines the interconnectedness of plant, animal, and human health, emphasizing that healthy plants are essential for a sustainable environment, nutritious food supply, and a stable economy.

Objectives of IDPH 2025:

i.Raise awareness about plant health’s role in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger).

ii.Minimize pest spread through trade and travel by enforcing International Plant Health Standards.

iii.Strengthen monitoring systems for early pest detection.

iv.Promote sustainable pest management to protect the environment.

v.Encourage investment in research, innovation, and capacity-building for plant health.

Background:

i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially adopted the observance of IDPH through the resolution A/RES/76/256 in March 2022. The resolution was co-sponsored by Bolivia, Finland, Pakistan, Philippines, Tanzania, and Zambia.

ii.The 1st ever International Day of Plant Health was observed on 12 May 2022.

iii.It recognizes that healthy plants form the foundation for life on Earth, ecosystem stability, and agricultural productivity—which are crucial to meet the needs of a growing global population projected by 2050.

iv.Each year, the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) and International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) organize events and campaigns to mark the day, encouraging stakeholders worldwide to take action in protecting plant health.

Significance of Plant Health:

• Plants contribute to 80% of human food and 98% of oxygen.
• Up to 40% of global food crops are lost annually due to plant pests and diseases, costing the world economy over USD 220 billion (Food and Agriculture Organization,FAO, 2021).
• Invasive insects cause additional losses of at least USD 70 billion annually.
• Climate change and increased international trade accelerate the spread of pests, threatening food security.

2025 Events:

i.In observance of IDPH 2025, a high-level ministerial conference was held on 12–13 May 2025 in Bari, Italy, to address the rising threats posed by Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases (TPPDs).

ii.The event was hosted by Paris (France) based International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in collaboration with the FAO and the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO).

iii.This regional event was attended by ministers from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

About Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO): 
Director-General(DG)- Dr. Qu Dongyu
Headquarters– Rome, Italy
Established– 1945