South Africa’s Department of Agriculture used the International Day of Plant Health to reinforce growing concerns over the resilience of the country’s food systems, with a national commemoration held and a provincial activation hosted in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
Minister of Agriculture Mr John Steenhuisen said plant health is no longer a technical issue confined to agriculture, but a frontline condition for food security.
“Plant biosecurity is active involvement. Fighting plant pests and diseases today secures food security for tomorrow for animals and humans. By strengthening plant biosecurity, we are locking the doors against devastating pests and securing nutrition, livelihoods and the future for all South Africans. Protecting plants today is the only way to feed tomorrow,” he said.
The Department of Agriculture (DoA), working with the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA), led the provincial programme under the theme “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security and Nutrition.”
Plants account for roughly 80% of the human diet and underpin ecosystem stability, yet remain under sustained pressure from invasive pests and disease outbreaks. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that up to 40% of global crops are lost annually due to plant pests and diseases.
The United Nations formally established 12 May as the International Day of Plant Health in 2022, recognising the role of plant protection in global food security and sustainable development.
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Speaking at the event, Deputy Director-General for Agricultural Production, Biosecurity and Natural Resources Management, Mr Dipepeneneng Serage, said plant protection cannot sit within a single sector.
“Protecting plants is not just the responsibility of farmers, government, or scientists. It is a shared national and global responsibility,” he said.
South Africa continues to confront a growing list of high-risk pests and diseases, including the Oriental fruit fly, Fall armyworm, Citrus greening, Polyphagous shot hole borer, Banana Bunchy Top Virus, and Citrus black spot, all of which place pressure on yields, trade access, and rural livelihoods.
The Department said strengthening plant biosecurity systems is now central to protecting agricultural productivity and stabilising food supply chains, particularly in vulnerable rural economies.
It added that effective response depends on coordination between government, research institutions such as the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), universities, municipalities, traditional leadership structures, and private sector actors, alongside Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
As part of the programme, stakeholders visited the Mpumalanga International Food Market to examine how produce moves from local systems into regional and international trade channels, and how plant health compliance determines market access.
The Department urged communities to move beyond awareness and actively participate in strengthening plant protection systems as climate and trade pressures intensify pest risks.
