ADAFSA Strengthens Plant Health And Biosecurity Initiatives On International Day Of Plant Health

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) is committed to safeguarding plant health in the emirate. This dedication aligns with the International Day of Plant Health on 12th May. ADAFSA focuses on initiatives to combat diseases and pests, ensuring agricultural sustainability. Their efforts include regular crop inspections, integrated pest management using modern technologies, and farmer training programmes.

ADAFSA's strategy enhances both plant and animal biosecurity in Abu Dhabi. Specialised programmes control agricultural pests, notably through the Integrated Palm Pest Management Programme. This initiative targets key palm pests like the red palm weevil and date palm dust mite. Environmentally safe methods aligned with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles are used to mitigate economic damage and protect ecosystems.

The Integrated Palm Pest Management Programme is crucial for protecting palm trees, which hold strategic importance in national heritage, biodiversity, food security, and date production. ADAFSA employs preventive measures to safeguard trees, escalating to pesticide application or removal of severely infested trees when necessary. The programme also includes an intensive trapping initiative using pheromone-based traps to monitor adult weevils.

Since 2013, over 124,000 traps have been deployed across more than 21,000 farms in Abu Dhabi. These efforts have captured approximately 11,222,340 red palm weevils by the end of 2024. Additionally, a palm survey programme detects infestations of red palm weevil and borers. From 2019 to 2024, these surveys identified and treated 267,428 infested palm trees using chemical and organic pesticides.

ADAFSA's pest control measures include removing and shredding dead or severely infested palm trees. Over the past five years, they eliminated 472,092 such trees to curb the spread of the red palm weevil. More than 12,000 tonnes of resulting waste were repurposed into organic fertilisers. Embracing IPM concepts helps ADAFSA integrate economic and environmental practices for sustainable pest elimination.

Agricultural quarantine serves as a vital defence against pests. It relies on legislative frameworks regulating agricultural material movement to prevent pest spread to un-infested areas. ADAFSA operates advanced laboratories equipped with diagnostic technologies for emergency preparedness against agricultural pests.

Emergency Preparedness

ADAFSA has developed an emergency response plan for agricultural pests as part of its biosecurity framework. This plan enhances plant health and controls outbreaks in Abu Dhabi's farms. These efforts position the UAE among the most prepared regions globally for addressing agricultural pest challenges.

The Authority promotes biological pest control systems to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while preserving the environment. Regular pest monitoring surveys are conducted alongside farmer education on best agricultural practices to minimise infestations.

Research and Innovation

ADAFSA maintains a comprehensive database of major agricultural pests in the emirate and has published a pest record serving as a scientific reference for researchers and farmers. The Authority also boasts a team of specialised experts at three research stations dedicated to examining pests in open fields and greenhouses.

The findings from these research stations inform pest control programmes and help select disease- and pest-resistant plant varieties to maximise productivity. ADAFSA continues adopting best practices and innovative technologies in agriculture to enhance its efforts further.

The Authority's commitment ensures that Abu Dhabi remains at the forefront of plant health preservation while supporting sustainable agriculture across the region.

With inputs from WAM