IPPC seminar: «Stop the Red Palm Weevil. Contribution of the IPPC to prevent the spread of this pest»

The IPPC Seminar «Stop the Red Palm Weevil. Contribution of the IPPC to prevent the spread of this pest» will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Center on Wednesday 29th of March 2017 from 12.30 to 13.30.

The event is open to all FAO staff and it will also be webcast at the following links:

• Intranet (for FAO staff only): http://intranet.fao.org/stream/?id=4314

• Internet (for the general public): http://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/4314/icode/

The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a key pest of palms originating from Southeast Asia. This pest has significantly expanded its geographical and host range during the last three decades. In the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, RPW is causing widespread damage to date palm, resulting in significant economic and environmental impact. In the Middle-East, RPW has been the most destructive insect pest of date palm. In 2009, annual losses in the Gulf region of the Middle-East due to removal of severely infested palms has been estimated to range from 1.74 to 8.69 million USD at 1 and 5% infestation, respectively.

The International Plant Protection Convention s (IPPC) mission is to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests. IPPC s work facilitates economic growth and trade development, enhances global food security, protects sustainable agriculture and protects the environment, forests and ecosystems. The IPPC standard setting and implementation activities are crucial components that help prevent the Red Palm Weevil from entering new countries and spreading. The IPPC operates through National and Regional Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs and RPPOs). The Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO) intends to transform the challenge of preventing and managing the Red Palm Weevil into an opportunity to strengthen phytosanitary cooperation in the region.

The full programme can be found below:

1. Introductory Remarks by Dr. Jingyuan Xia, IPPC Secretary.

2. Opening Remarks by H.E. Mohammed Ahmed M. Alghamdi, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to FAO.

3. Lessons learnt from the management of the Red Palm Weevil by Dr. Michel Ferry, Scientific Director of the Phoenix Research Station, French National Institute for Agricultural Research.

4. How implementing the IPPC standards contributes to effective management of the Red Palm Weevil? by Ms. Sarah Brunel, Capacity Development Officer from the IPPC.

5. Regional and National Perspectives of Red Palm Weevil management in Maghreb countries by Dr. Mekki Chouibani, the Executive Director of NEPPO; Dr. Fethia Helalli, NPPO of Tunisia to present the Tunisian experience to manage Red Palm Weevil.

A light lunch will be served at the ground floor of building A at the end of the seminar.