January Kicks off International Year of Plant Health

Did you know that 2020 is the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH)? Designated by the United Nations General Assembly, the IYPH seeks to bring greater attention to the vital role plant health plays in ending hunger, reducing poverty, protecting the environment and boosting economic development.

The seed industry plays a critical role in ensuring plant health by implementing strong phytosanitary practices at every stage of seed production – from lab, to field, to market.

Please join the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the global seed industry and government partners in helping shine a light on the importance of plant health throughout the year! To help kick off the IYPH, ASTA has released a new mini documentary about the role of the U.S. seed industry in ensuring safe, quality seed. The 15-minute video can be found on YouTube and the ASTA website, and will be available in several languages for use at meetings and other key events. For questions, please contact info@betterseed.org. Additional resources can be found on USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service new IYPH website. Visit the site to learn more about plant health, download communications resources and find information about related events throughout the year, including the Safeguarding 2020 Conference planned for August 18-20, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

Help spread the world! Follow @Better_Seed and join the conversation online using #IYPH2020 and #PlantHealth.