Australia participates in a global collaboration for plant health

The Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) is delighted to announce the release of a paper on “Science diplomacy for plant health”. The paper was published today in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Plants, coinciding with the IPPC International Year of Plant Health 2020.

International research collaboration is key to fighting plant pests and diseases, causing up to 40% of food crop loss and $AUD 300 billion in losses every year.

Led by Euphresco Coordinator, Baldissera Giovani, and including Australian and New Zealand authors, this paper represents a collaboration of experts from the global plant health community to better address the challenges of plant health.

“Science is the key to build synergies between national and international communities. Establishing a global research network of phytosanitary experts and researchers, and boosting international collaboration, is crucial to help both local and international authorities fight plant health threats, and find common solutions to emerging global challenges”, states co-author Dr. Jingyuan Xia, IPPC Secretary Officer in Charge and Director of FAO Plant Production and Protection Division.

The partnerships between PBRI, Euphresco and Better Border Biosecurity New Zealand will strengthen this global alliance and support the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030, which outlines a development agenda on global phytosanitary research coordination.

Read the paper here.

Read the IPPC media release here.