Three new UN resolutions focus on plant health, pulses and food safety

From
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
Published on
28.12.18
Impact Area
Climate adaptation & mitigation, Food security, Nutrition

Identification of dry root rot in chickpea using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method (LAMP). Photo: ICRISAT

The United Nations General Assembly has declared two new ‘International Days’ and one ‘Year’ devoted to central issues in global food security and nutrition. With these it hopes to create a conversation and generate solutions to concerns about plant health, food safety and pulses.

2020 to be International Year of Plant Health

With up to 40% of global food crops lost annually due to plant pests, the importance of fostering healthy plants is crucial. Plant diseases and invasive insects cost the global economy around $220 billion and around $70 billion annually, respectively.