In light of this growing international support for integrating plant health, CABI's One Health Hub reiterates its call to embed plant health into One Health strategies to safeguard food production, ecosystems, and human wellbeing.

Plant health is a critical but often overlooked pillar of the One Health approach, according to a newly published CABI evidence brief. Yet plant health remains largely disconnected from One Health funding, research, and strategies, despite its importance for human wellbeing, food security, and biodiversity..

"Despite the important role it plays in all sectors of health - human, animal, and ecosystem - plant health is often seen as an afterthought in One Health strategies. However, we can address this by advocating for the integration of plant health into One Health funding, policy, and research initiatives," Dr Solveig Danielsen urged.

A key example of such successful integration will be showcased in an upcoming CABI-hosted webinar that will form part of the One Health Festival surrounding April's Summit. The session will showcase the work of joint crop-livestock clinics in Uganda and how these improve pesticide use and responsible veterinary drug practices, directly addressing plant health risks that contribute to antimicrobial resistance. A spotlight on Baringo County, Kenya, will demonstrate how participatory One Health platforms engage crop farmers to tackle unsafe pesticide use, pest pressures, and wider ecosystem drivers affecting plant health. Insights from Northern Kenya and Ethiopia further show how integrated subnational surveillance can capture agricultural, environmental, and animal health signals, supporting more coordinated responses.

The evidence brief notes the narrow conceptual focus of One Health and the limited inclusion of plant health. Missed synergies pose a challenge, as plant health work in areas like agroecology, biocontrol, and pesticide management align closely with the One Health approach. The plant world remains underrepresented and misses the institutional and political clout of other health sectors. The funding balance leans towards human health, and the disconnection of plant health from One Health weakens responses to global crises such as food security.

The brief recommends that funders, policymakers, and researchers take action to integrate plant health into One Health:

• Funders should consider including plant health in One Health calls for proposals and track outcomes through measurable indicators.
• Policymakers The Quadripartite, in turn, should address plant health issues in the next Joint Plan of Action, particularly invasive species, mycotoxins, and pesticide risks.
• Researchers should connect people from relevant sectors by leveraging undeclared One Health work and unlocking new collaboration and funding opportunities.

The report concludes that redrawing the Quadripartite's Joint Plan of Action from 2026 presents an ideal opportunity to rethink One Health engagement and strategy and offers an opportune moment to fully establish plant health as an integral part of One Health. The brief argues that collaboration across sectors among funders, policymakers, and researchers will be pivotal to achieving this goal.

Dr Urs Schaffner said: "We must strengthen collaboration across relevant sectors to be able to tackle complex global health challenges more effectively. The redrawing of the Quadripartite Joint Plan of Action is a key opportunity to move this action forward."

India: Telangana Imposes 60-Day Ban on Paraquat Herbicide Over Safety Concerns

Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to [email protected]

09 April 2026, Mumbai: Leading tractor manufacturers, including Mahindra Tractors and Swaraj Tractors, have announced price increases across their domestic tractor ranges in April

16 April 2026, Hyderabad: As maize gains importance across South and Southeast Asia for food, feed, fodder and industrial use, access

10 April 2026, Belgium: The Gates Foundation has awarded a $7 million grant to Rainbow Crops to support the development of crop varieties that can