Plant Health- An important Factor to Reconsider in One Health

The Scientific Review of the Impact of Climate Change on Plant Pests, published by Food and Agriculture Organization in 2021, indicates that over the past 30 to 40 years, climate change impacts have affected plant health and driven the increase of pests due to increased temperature, CO2, ozone or ultraviolet-B irradiation, and changing water or humidity patterns. This also increased the incidence and severity of plant diseases.

While there is a noticeable spike in environmental degradation at the expense of humanity, plants have not been spared, as indicated by UNEP. The organisation says that the equivalent of 1.6 Earths is needed to maintain our current way of life, and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands. UNEP says that one million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction.

The combination of human activity and climate change impacts on ecosystems necessitates a reconsideration of how to protect plants that play a crucial role in human health, food security, and poverty reduction, among many other important factors. These factors are also reflected in this year’s theme, “The importance of plant health in one health”, where a global call was to raise awareness and take action to keep plants, animals, humans and the environment healthy.

Why is plant health the root of one’s health?

Unhealthy plants, ravaged by pests and diseases, significantly reduce crop yields. FAO estimates that plant pests and diseases destroy 40 per cent of global crops annually. This translates to a drastic decline in the availability of nutritious food, particularly for vulnerable populations already facing food insecurity due to climate change or conflict. According to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) report (2022), Extreme weather events, including heatwaves, drought, altered rainfall patterns and tropical cyclones have become more frequent and severe, leading to some irreversible impacts in ecosystems and people, as natural and human systems are pushed beyond their ability to adapt.

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) states that each year, the continent loses half of its harvest to pests, causing investment losses, reduced yields, and loss of livelihoods, denting the progress made in the fight for food security. This is sometimes further exacerbated by climate change due to changing temperatures and rainfall patterns, which alter pest dynamics and disease patterns.

Healthy plants, on the other hand, provide the foundation for a nutritious diet. They are the source of essential vitamins, minerals and fibers that underpin human health. A decline in plant health translates to a decline in the quality of our food intake, potentially leading to malnutrition and related health problems.

In Africa, addressing the impact of pests on food security requires comprehensive and sustainable strategies and investments that will improve surveillance and early warning systems, promote integrated pest management practices, enhance access to improved seeds and plant varieties, and investing research and development for pest control and plant health.

Organisations like IITA have contributed significantly to sustainable pest management practices, addressing food losses and improving food security across Africa. IITA has carried out 58 pest management projects providing solutions to various pest groups like Fungus, Virus, Mite, Insect, Bacterium and Nematode.  These projects have helped millions of African farmers mitigate crop losses from pest’s invasion and increase crop productivity, thereby addressing food shortage and malnutrition.

Plant health and animal health

Unhealthy plants can trigger a cascade of negative effects, impacting animal health as well. Plants serve as food and habitat for various insects and animals. Diseased or pest-infested plants can harbor harmful pathogens that can then be transmitted to these animals. This can lead to outbreaks of animal diseases, impacting food production further and potentially spilling over to human health through zoonotic transmission (diseases that jump from animal to human).

Beyond food: Plant Health and Environmental Health

The impact of plant health extends far beyond the realm of food production. Healthy plants play a crucial role in maintaining environmental health. Forests, for example, act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change.

Healthy plants help maintain healthy soil ecosystems. They contribute to soil fertility and prevent erosion. Conversely, unhealthy plants can lead to soil degradation – a problem with cascading consequences for agricultural productivity and overall environmental well-being.

Current agricultural practices often contribute to declining plant health. Overuse of pesticides can reduce populations of beneficial insects that naturally control pests and pollinate plants. This disrupts the ecological balance and creates conditions for pest resurgence and the emergence of pesticide-resistant strains. Additionally, intensive farming practices can deplete soil nutrients, weaken plants and make them more susceptible to diseases.

As we are set to celebrate this day, let us be in the fore front to promote sustainable plant health practices and combat pests and diseases that threaten food security and biodiversity.

Jackline Kalunge, PACJA