Filenews 16 May 2024
A broad coalition of partners from across Europe joined forces for today's launch of the second year of the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, in which Cyprus participates with the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment as the National Plant Protection Organization. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the deeper links between plant health and our daily lives, strengthening citizens' action to protect plant health. The #PlantHealth4Life campaign is being run by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission and 22 European countries.
PlantHealth4Life - https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plh4l
How does plant health affect our lives?
Plants make up 80% of the food we eat, purify the air we breathe and more: Healthy plants mean good agricultural yield, which affects food availability and prices for consumers. Climate change and human activities, such as trade and travel, put a lot of pressure on plants, while the spread of organisms and diseases harmful to plants can have devastating economic and environmental consequences. Consider potato downy mildew, which in the mid-19th century led to catastrophic crop loss and was a determining factor in the Irish potato famine.
However, many European citizens are still not sufficiently aware of why plant health is important. The #PlantHealth4Life campaign aims to raise collective awareness of the risks to plant health and the role each of us has to play in protecting plants.
"Plant health affects not only the environment, the economy and the European food chain, but also our present and future – by keeping plants healthy, we protect life. We are therefore proud to see the interest Europeans are showing in this issue, as evidenced by the unprecedented involvement of Member States in the #PlantHealth4Life campaign," said Tobin Robinson, Head of EFSA's Plant Unit, who will present the campaign during the Plant Health without Borders symposium organised today in Brussels by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
"Informed European citizens, armed with accurate information on plant health, can help protect and preserve our biodiversity," said Claire Bury, DG SANTE's Deputy Director-General for Food Sustainability. "Plant health is a priority for the European Commission under the One Health approach. By informing citizens about the importance of not introducing pests into the European Union and giving them the knowledge to take appropriate action, we can make a difference."
"The flora of our country is an integral part of our Cypriot cultural identity. Ensuring the health of Cyprus' forests, urban greenery, our agriculture, is not just a responsibility but a duty for all of us", said Dr. Anthemis Melifronidou-Pantelidou, Senior Product Inspection Officer and responsible for Plant Health issues of the Department of Agriculture.
Join!
The actions of every European are crucial to maintaining plant health. Visit the #PlantHealth4Life campaign website and discover how you can protect plant health. You will find resources available in all EU languages, such as press releases, social media posts that you can share on your channels, and videos.
You may find this information useful, especially if you are:
● A curious traveller who loves to explore the world and nature;
● Gardener who grows and takes care of vegetables, flowers and trees in his home, yard or balcony;
● A parent who is concerned about the food their children eat and wants to protect rural communities, the environment and biodiversity for future generations.
This year, there are many opportunities to participate in the campaign, which will tour trade fairs and other exhibitions as well as schools in the participating countries. Consult the campaign's website to find out about the actions in your country and stay tuned for more information as they become available!
A few words about the campaign
The #PlantHealth4Life is a multi-year and multinational campaign developed at the request of the European Commission and based on an in-depth analysis of perceptions and behaviour about plant health across the EU. This year, 21 Member States and one candidate country are participating in the campaign, twice as many as last year: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Montenegro.
About EFSA
The European Food Safety Authority is a European Union agency established in 2002 that acts as an impartial source of scientific advice to risk managers and to inform about risks associated with the food chain.
It works with stakeholders to promote coherence of scientific advice at EU level and provides the scientific basis for legislation and regulations aimed at protecting European consumers from food-related risks – 'from farm to fork'.
Department of Agriculture
Plant Health and Trade Standards of Agricultural Products
inspection@da.moa.gov.cy
CEPOL Press Officers
Department of Agriculture,
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Eleni Mili
Agricultural Officer A'
Agricultural Extension Division
E. Address: emili@da.moa.gov.cy
Tel. office: +357 22408599
No. Fax: +357 22771385
