The United Nations General Assembly declared and dedicated 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), thus dedicating 2020 to global plant health.

IYPH is geared towards raising awareness about plant health and the impact of healthy plants and forests on food security, poverty, economic development and sustainability.

A calendar of events was prepared for the celebration of the IYPH across the globe as well as in Africa, culminating in the International Plant Health Conference in Helsinki, Finland in October 2020. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 across the globe early in the year hampered several of the planned calendar of activities; many have been postponed.

IAPSC continues to liaise with the IPPC via various communication channels to keep abreast with the IYPH global calendar of activities as well as to update on the IYPH 2020 activities for Africa.

IAPSC anticipates to use the IYPH 2020 as a unique opportunity to raise awareness of major trans-boundary as well as emerging plant pests and diseases in Africa.