International Year of Plant Health 2020

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The UN describes IYPH as “a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.”

One of the UN’s key messages for IYPH is “invest in plant health capacity development, research and outreach”.

This is where UK Research and Innovation comes in. UKRI are working to ensure the best possible environment for plant health research and innovation to flourish.

We are a key player in tackling plant health challenges because we are working to find solutions to plant health issues to increase yields, reduce environmental impact and prevent outbreaks, as well as solving public health issues.

We have access to knowledge and stories that are key to the success of IYPH because the UK plant health research and innovation community has achieved amazing things so far for the UK and the world.

On this page, you will find examples of how UK Research and Innovation contributes to plant health.

To learn about how you can get involved visit the International Year of Plant Health website.

International Year of Plant Health 2020, the year in review

Storytelling at the heart of UKRI campaign, 12 plants celebrated in exclusive artwork and funding for plant health projects announced.

Looking back at our International Year of Plant Health Campaign

2020 has provided many challenges and trials, but despite the pandemic, UKRI still played its part in this years’ International Year of Plant of Health.

Three ways that plant health researchers are boosting food production

What are our plant health researchers doing to help tackle food loss? We take a look at three areas where real impact is happening.

Four ways tech is helping plant health

New technologies can help farmers reduce or eliminate the volume of traditional plant protection products – here are four groundbreaking examples.

How plants promote better mental health and wellbeing

Research has shown that spending more time in nature has a beneficial impact on our mental health.

Reducing climate change impact with plant science

The world’s plants may be able to offer solutions to not only the problems caused by climate change, but also to climate change itself.

Plant power – building resources in developing countries

Enabling developing countries to do their own research with local impact is vital in the sustainable support of global plant health.

How better plant health can protect global food production

We look at the threats to three main crop groups – and see what the science experts are doing to save them.

Bacterial diseases threatening food production and tree health

Bacterial diseases are a major threat to our food supply. In the UK, such diseases are endangering the security of essential food crops such as potatoes, carrots and soft fruits.

Birdsong and big apples: what tree health means for you

Imagine a world without trees: no boughs to provide shade, no autumn leaves with their bursts of colours, no way to break up the concrete of cityscapes. The world would certainly look less attractive.