CABI News

Since the inception of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union in 1954, CABI has been a very close partner. This partnership was later officially captured in the AU Maputo Structure (see EX/CL/Dec.34 (III) Assembly/AU/Dec.22.

AU-IAPSC launched its Plant Health Strategy and Implementation plan in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – the strategy aimed to improve food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and trade. CABI has played a key role in preparing and developing the launch.

The AU-IAPSC, the Regional Plant Protection Organization for Africa, unveiled the strategy for better sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in Africa. The development of the implementation plan of the PHSA was made possible with support from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS).

In attendance at the launch event were Dr Morris Akiri, CABI’s Senior Regional Director, Africa, as well as Madam H.E. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union, Dr Janet Edeme, Head of Division, Rural Development Division and Acting Head of Division, Agriculture and Food Safety Division, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Climate Officer of the United States Mission to the African Union (US-AU), Mr Christopher Nyce, and Dr Saliou Niassy, Coordinator of AU-IAPSC.

CABI provided technical expertise for the development of 2022-2036 plant health strategy
Under USDA-FAS support, scientists from CABI’s regional centre for Africa in Nairobi worked with the AU-IAPSC to provide technical expertise and financial support to develop the 2022-2036 PHSA implementation plan.

CABI and USDA’s support to the AU-IAPSC and the African Union Department of Agriculture Rural Development Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (AU-DARBE) will now help to implement the Plant Health Strategy and its associated activities.

CABI’s Dr Akiri said CABI has further supported the development of continental regulatory guidelines for the registration and testing of biopesticides and held consultative meetings to raise awareness of the guidelines amongst the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and African Union Member States (MS).

In line with PHSA Strategic action 3.7: Strengthen implementation of eco-friendly IPM approaches with emphasis on pesticide risk reduction and safe use, including MRLs, CABI is currently championing the adoption of these guidelines to increase the availability of biopesticides for better management of insect pests and diseases, he said.

Promote ePhyto adoption

Dr Akiri added that CABI has undertaken a detailed study to identify challenges and opportunities in the adoption of electronic Phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto), a key requirement to facilitate safe trade in agricultural produce aligned to the PHSA Strategic action 5.2 on Promoting wider adoption and implementation of e-Phyto in the Member States.

He further said that, under the support of the project, AU-IAPSC held a successful workshop in collaboration with USDA-FAS, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) secretariat, and CABI to promote ePhyto adoption. An ePhyto workshop was held in June 2023 in Entebbe, Uganda.

Dr Akiri said, “CABI is committed to continue working with AU-IAPSC to enhance the delivery of a robust phytosanitary system, promote safe trade, and strengthen the capacity of its member states to prevent and manage pests and disease incursions effectively.

“I call upon USDA-FAS, RECs, and AU Member States to support AU-IAPSC in delivering on their crucial role in coordinating efforts to protect plant health across our continent, facilitate safe trade, and increase the livelihoods of our farmers.

“As we embark on implementing the Plant Health Strategy, let us remember that our plants’ health is intrinsically linked to our well-being, economies, and sustainable environment. Therefore, I call upon all of us to pull our efforts towards the same direction and engage actively and together shape a sustainable plant health system in Africa.”

Plant Health System for healthy plants in Africa

The vision of the Plant Health Strategy for Africa 2022-2036 is a robust and practical management system for healthy plants in Africa.

Its mission is for the continent to have harmonized standards/procedures and the capacity to effectively manage the introduction and spread of pests and their controlled impacts, which subsequently improve safe trade, food and nutrition security, economic growth, and environmental protection.

Madam Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for the African Union Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (AU-DARBE), said, “The continued occurrence of plant pests exacerbated by the changing climate is resulting in high rates of loss of plant species and biodiversity which has in turn placed thousands of plant species to which Africa is host at risk.”

This growing trend needs to be reversed, given the centrality of agriculture to Africa’s economy, where it accounts for 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 15% of exports, 60 to 80% of employment, and 75% of intra-African trade.

Plant protection activities on the continent are a priority

Madam Sacko added, “If this negative trend is not reversed, Africa’s economic gains and aspirations through various development initiatives and strategies (such as
the Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
leading to increased intra-African trade), will be undermined.”

She said coordinated efforts towards plant protection activities on the continent are a priority, and among others, should focus on information exchange, a regional standard development program, and provision of inputs into international standard setting and regional pesticide programs.

“There is need for strong leadership in promoting integrated pest management (IPM)
programs for building national capacities in member states for strong plant health systems, resulting in better livelihoods and enhanced trade and conservation of biodiversity,” she said.

Mr Nyce, US-AU, reiterated the commitment to the strategic partnership by the US government to AU and assured AU IAPSC of its continued support of USA to strengthen Plant Health in Africa.

Ba Aichetou, the representative from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), highlighted the ongoing projects on Plant Health in support of the implementation of the PHSA.

Dr El-Lissy Osama, the IPPC Secretary, in his remarks, assured AU IAPSC of continued collaboration in the implementation of the Plant Health Strategy. He also emphasized complementary IPPC programmes such as African Phytosanitary Program, e-phyto and Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation PCE.

Dr MaryLucy Oronje, Senior Scientist – SPS, said the new Plant Health Strategy for Africa will also support National Plant Protection Organizations to implement harmonised international SPS standards essential for safe trade in agrifood value chains.

Dr Saliou Niassy, reiterated the necessity to work together to streamline plant health activities across the continent and safe trade. The PHSA represents a roadmap to all organizations involved in the Plant Health sector and he appreciated the support of USDA FAS and CABI in the support of the development of the Implementation Plan for the PHSA.

Dr Saliou Niassy called upon development partners for continued support to enhance crop production, food security and safe trade in agriproducts in Africa and beyond.

“This will not only help increase national food security but will also open up more profitable export markets for fresh fruit and vegetables,” he said.

Additional information

Main image: CABI has played a key role in the development and launch of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union’s Plant Health Strategy for Africa aimed at improving food security, nutrition, livelihoods and trade (Credit: CABI).

Project page

Find out more information about how CABI has been supporting the implementation of the Plant Health Strategy for Africa from the project page here.

Relevant story

‘CABI provides technical expertise to help implement the Plant Health Strategy for Africa.’

Plant Health Strategy for Africa 2022-2036

You can access the Plant Health Strategy for Africa 2022-2036 here.