Jan 31, 2020

2020 is All About Plant Health Says U.N. By Tim Hodson

A few weeks ago, I told you that Seed Your Future has declared 2020 to be the Year of the Plant as part of its effort “to promote horticulture and inspire people to pursue careers working with plants.”

Well, I also wanted to let you know that 2020 has been designated the International Year of Plant Health according to the United Nations.

In December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to help raise global awareness of how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment and boost economic development.

The U.N. is “calling on people, organizations, industries, scientists, and governments to work together to protect plants against the introduction and spread of invasive pests.”

The U.S. National Plant Protection Organization — the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Plant Protection and Quarantine — is leading the effort in the United States.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) also is urging growers to take advantage of the U.N.’s declaration. The organization will be conducting outreach and engagement activities throughout 2020 to help raise public awareness about why plant health is so important and to generate a greater understanding of how the introduction of plant pests and diseases hurts more than just the plant producers.

To learn more about the U.N.’s International Year of Plant Health program and how your company can participate, visit USDA’s website at www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/2020.

— Tim