- CIHEAM Zaragoza will host an international symposium on plant health in the Mediterranean on 19 November 2026.
- Organised alongside the REMESAVE regional workshop led by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for North Africa, and with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the event brings together national plant protection organisations, international experts and researchers.
Register here for on-line participation!
CIHEAM Zaragoza will host an international symposium on plant health on 19 November 2026, bringing together technical experts, institutional representatives and researchers from across the Mediterranean to discuss the region's phytosanitary challenges and the opportunities for closer cooperation.
Plant health systems across the Mediterranean are under growing pressure from the spread of pests and pathogens, intensified trade, climate change and evolving agricultural practices. Responding effectively calls for stronger surveillance, faster information exchange and closer coordination among countries and institutions — the focus of this symposium.
The event is organised as a complementary activity to the regional workshop of the Mediterranean Plant Health Network (REMESAVE), led by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for North Africa, with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and is open to the public.
The symposium is a collaborative initiative bringing together CIHEAM Zaragoza, REMESAVE members and other regional and national actors working on plant health. It is hosted and coordinated by CIHEAM Zaragoza, in partnership with the FAO Sub-Regional Office for North Africa.
Objectives
The symposium aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on plant health across the Mediterranean by convening the technical and institutional actors involved. Specifically, it will present current and emerging phytosanitary threats in the region; discuss the main technical and institutional challenges in plant pest surveillance and control; identify concrete opportunities for regional and cross-institutional cooperation; promote the exchange of experience on surveillance systems, diagnostic tools and response strategies; and reinforce links between REMESAVE members and other plant health stakeholders.
Who should attend
The symposium is open to the public and is expected to gather representatives of national plant protection organisations (NPPOs), experts from international and regional organisations, researchers and academics, reference laboratory specialists, technical staff from public institutions and cooperating bodies, and other stakeholders interested in Mediterranean phytosanitary cooperation.
Programme highlights
The day combines opening keynotes, technical sessions, a moderated expert panel and a closing round table, each followed by open exchange with the audience. Presentations will address two complementary dimensions: the challenges of plant health monitoring and control, and the opportunities for regional collaboration. Sessions will cover current and emerging pests and diseases in the Mediterranean basin, pathways of introduction and spread (including trade-related risks), the effects of climate change on plant health, surveillance, early detection and monitoring systems, diagnostic capacity and reference-laboratory networks, coordination mechanisms for phytosanitary response, and regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and joint institutional action.
Download the draft programme here.
Expected outcomes and follow-up
The symposium is expected to result in a shared understanding of the region's key phytosanitary challenges, a short list of priority areas for future collaboration, and new or reinforced working contacts among REMESAVE members, public authorities and technical institutions.
Key messages and conclusions will be compiled into a short summary report for participants and partner institutions. Subject to confirmation, sessions may be recorded and selected materials published.
Practical information
- Date: 19 November 2026, 09:00–17:00
- Venue: CIHEAM Zaragoza, Spain and on line
- Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish
- Registration: Free of charge; prior online registration required