International Day of Plant Health
May 12 · Level 6 · #986 of 2238
The International Day of Plant Health highlights how much our food supply and ecosystems depend on healthy plants. This United Nations observance focuses on preventing the spread of pests and diseases that threaten crops, forests and gardens.
How it is celebrated: organisations arrange talks, learning activities and public information campaigns. Plant specialists explain how to spot potential problems and why moving seeds, seedlings or fruit between places can spread unwanted pests.
FAO estimates that pests and diseases destroy up to 40% of global crop production each year. Protecting a harvest therefore starts well before a plant shows obvious signs of damage.