The first International Plant Health Conference, which was scheduled to take place in Helsinki, Finland, from 28 June to 1 July 2021 is cancelled. The IYPH International Steering Committee took the decision at its 14th meeting on 2 February 2021, in agreement with Finland as the host country, due to the persistent travel restrictions, new COVID-19 variants and delayed vaccination plans.
The IYPH international steering committee instead recommends the first International Plant Health Conference to take place in the week of 12 May 2022, which would possibly also mark the first International Day of Plant Health, depending on the outcomes of the on-going proclamation process. The IPPC Secretariat is currently looking into country candidates to host the conference under the coordination of the IPPC Secretariat and FAO.
To pave the way towards the conference, the IYPH International Steering Committee decided to organize a series of thematic webinars. A virtual launch of the study report on the impacts of climate change on plant health on 1 June 2021 will kick-start the series. The launch will be followed by webinars on 29 and 30 June 2021 focusing on food systems and climate change. Two more webinars are planned for October and December, the latter focusing on synergies between plant health and fruit and vegetables, at the occasion of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021.
