News published: 21 May 2025

At BGCI, we are strongly committed to protecting plant health. The International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN), one of our flagship initiatives, plays a vital role in promoting and advancing plant health and strengthening biosecurity practices across botanic gardens and arboreta worldwide.

We were proud to take part in Plant Health Week – an annual campaign designed to raise public awareness and foster engagement around plant health and biosecurity. The week culminated on 12th May with the International Day of Plant Health, a United Nations-designated day that shines a spotlight on the essential role of plant health in preserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, ending hunger, reducing poverty, and supporting sustainable economic development.

To mark the occasion, this year’s International Day of Plant Health issued a powerful global call to action — encouraging individuals and organisations to collaborate in protecting the health of plants, animals, people, and the environment.

As part of our contribution, BGCI’s IPSN shared a suite of resources focused on plant pests and diseases, best practices in biosecurity, surveillance opportunities and inspiring case studies from experts around the world plant health and biosecurity challenges. To make these valuable resources more accessible, we have compiled them into a special edition of our IPSN newsletter, which features all these materials, calls to action, and insights provided by the initiative and its partners across the globe.

We invite you to explore our IPSN Plant Health Week Special Newsletter and join us in our mission to safeguard plant health worldwide!