A European campaign that highlights the vital importance of plant health, calling on citizens and industry professionals to take greater responsibility and care. It’s called #PlantHealth4Life, and it’s an initiative promoted by EFSA to raise public awareness and strengthen defenses against threats that damage the plant heritage.

In today’s global context, threatened by climate change, increasing pressure on natural resources, rising trade flows, and a growing incidence of plant diseases, plant protection is becoming a strategic priority. It is not just about safeguarding crops, but about preserving food security, ecological stability, and the resilience and competitiveness of entire production sectors, such as the plant nursery industry.

Plants are essential pillars of life on Earth: they provide 80% of the food we consume, regulate the climate by absorbing CO₂ and producing oxygen, and help preserve soil and ecosystem biodiversity. That’s why it is our duty to protect them.

The economic impact: the cost of failing to prevent

Plants are a key economic resource, generating value across agricultural, forestry and ornamental supply chains, creating jobs and supporting local economies.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the accidental introduction and spread of pests and pathogens through plant movement poses a real threat not only to agriculture but also to local ecosystems, disrupting trade balances and causing economic losses. According to the European Commission, damage caused by harmful organisms exceeds €10 billion per year in the EU alone. For this reason, European phytosanitary regulations have become increasingly strict, making certificates and plant passports mandatory for imports and exports.

The environmental impact: damage to plants results in ecological imbalance

Healthy plants contribute to a stable environment and ensure access to vital resources. When they fall ill, entire ecosystems suffer the consequences.

The presence of harmful organisms or plant diseases threatens the physiological integrity of plants, reduces growth and yields, and in the most severe cases, leads to plant death. These stress factors not only affect agriculture by limiting food availability, but they also trigger ecological imbalances and loss of soil functionality.

Threats to plant health: key challenges in phytosanitary security

Quarantine pests and their uncontrolled spread are among the leading causes of degradation in both natural and cultivated habitats.
The European Union has drawn up a list of 20 priority quarantine pests, establishing mandatory prevention, surveillance and containment measures for companies handling plant materials.

In addition, climate change increases these risks: higher temperatures and irregular rainfall create favorable conditions for the spread of pests and plant diseases.

Individual and collective actions to take

The campaign encourages everyday actions that are mindful and responsible, including:

• Travel responsibly: when returning from non-EU countries, avoid bringing plants, flowers, seeds, fruits or vegetables without proper certification to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms.
• Check for phytosanitary certificates: required not only for commercial imports but also for ornamental, hobbyist and domestic purposes.
• Adopt the plant passport: essential for the movement of plant products within the EU as it ensures traceability and compliance. It must accompany propagation materials (seeds, scions, bulbs, etc.) and potted or bedding plants sold for ornamental use.
• Practice responsible gardening: even home gardeners can contribute by planting local species, minimizing pesticide use, and monitoring the health of their plants to promptly detect signs of disease.
• Shop responsibly: before purchasing plants and seeds from third countries, make sure they come with a valid phytosanitary certificate.
• Educate the next generation: promoting a culture of plant health awareness from an early age is key to building long-term environmental responsibility.

Digital tools for support: the role of Phytoweb

Developed by ANVE in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, the Phytoweb portal offers a practical response to the goals of #PlantHealth4Life.
It provides access to a constantly updated list of priority pests, real-time information on plant movement regulations by destination country, tools for issuing digital plant passports, and effective phytosanitary risk management solutions.

Recent plant health emergencies such as the spread of Xylella fastidiosa or the invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug have shown just how severe the consequences of inaction can be. This campaign offers a coordinated and proactive approach to increasing public awareness and promoting action, encouraging everyone to become agents of change.

Because protecting plants means protecting life.