Working Group:
Plant Health
Vision

Creation of a network in the area related to plant health
The Working Group "Plant Health" will facilitate the creation of a network of networks that will share information and increase capacity to respond to plant health threats in a changing environment. A network, for the purpose of this working group, is defined as institutions or countries that work together either through a formal agreement or terms of reference, on policy development or research in an area related to plant health.
Focus Areas
Plant health is a broad and encompassing term and working group members have agreed to focus on the following four areas of plant health activities:
- Biovigilance/plant security (e.g. monitoring, forecasting and early warning, etc.).
- Tools, technologies and best practices (e.g. rapid detection systems, etc.).
- Data knowledge and information exchange (e.g. data sharing platforms, etc.).
- Discovery and innovation (e.g. basic research in plant biotic interactions, etc.).
Key Deliverables
Deliverable: Finalize roadmap
Action Items
- Countries/organizations confirms their participation in the working group through email correspondence prior to the IBF 2nd Plenary Session (May 24, 2019).
- Seek additional membership in the working group through outreach activities to bilateral partners including the United Kingdom, Turkey and Australia.
Current Status: Completed
Deliverable: Establish governance/rules of the network
Action Items
- Members conducts an internal mapping exercise of existing plant health networks.
- Elaborate on the research and policy areas of emphasis.
- Identify leads and steering groups for the areas of emphasis.
- Explore funding opportunities to support a workshop of experts.
Current Status: Ongoing
Deliverable: White Paper developed from the workshop of experts (2020).
Action Items
- Coordinate the identified funding opportunities for a workshop of experts.
- Seek input from the relevant non-IBF stakeholders including the research community through a workshop of experts to facilitate the creation of a network of networks.
- Each Member identifies key areas of interest to engage in the network.
- Identify key questions for the network from basic biological questions up to operational goals.
- Discuss future coordination with the IBF Microbiome Working Group, the IBF ICT in Precision Food Systems Working Group and the IBF Forest Bioeconomy Working Group.
Current Status: Ongoing
Members
Canada:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
United States:
United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
European Union:
Directorate General Research and Innovation (DG RTD)
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
New Zealand:
Better Border Biosecurity (B3)
South Africa:
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (TBC)
Research Networks:
Euphresco network for phytosanitary research coordination and funding
European Technology Platform Plants for the Future