Wallingford, UK, 31 March 2026 – A new article published in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience calls for a diverse, participatory approach that combines indigenous, local knowledge systems with modern technologies to tackle plant diseases and strengthen food security in Africa. This comprehensive review proposes a strategy for "One Plant Health" management across the continent and aims to address challenges such as climate change and emerging plant viruses.
Authors Dr Gilbert Nchongboh Chofong, Dr Julia Mulabisana, and Dr Katja Richert-Poeggeler explain the core of this strategy as an integrated approach that brings together a broad range of stakeholders while combining old and new techniques for plant health and crop cultivation. Effective environmental management strategies can be developed and implemented, for example, by integrating indigenous communities' profound understanding of local ecosystems with data from remote sensing technologies such as drone and satellite imagery.
"A synergy is created when we combine indigenous knowledge with modern technologies," said lead author Dr Gilbert Nchongboh Chofong, Senior Research Associate at the Julius Kühn-Institut. "Our review shows that by using a combined, participatory approach, focusing on traditional techniques and modern approaches, stakeholders can unite to improve disease management, strengthen sustainable agriculture, and build more resilient food systems across Africa now and in future."
Local communities have long identified disease-resistant traits in plant varieties, cultivating them through seed selection, conventional breeding, and intercropping. Today, modern research employs smart breeding techniques (e.g. screening for molecular markers) that develop genetically improved crops for enhanced plant yield and resistance to plant viruses and other diseases. By integrating techniques, embracing both traditional wisdom and cutting-edge approaches, the strategy aims to improve plant health, reduce food shortage, and foster economic growth in Africa.
Broadening the application of the One Plant Health strategy
Furthermore, the strategy can be applied to address broader environmental problems. An integrated approach can help to tackle challenges such as deforestation, land degradation, soil pollution, and water scarcity.
Collaboration is key to the strategy, which emphasizes coordinated efforts among diverse participants, including researchers, farmers, local communities, and policymakers.
Strengthening the integration of Plant Heath in One Health
The paper aims to promote the integration of plant health and phytopathology into the One Health concept and encourage practices in agroecology to address broader health challenges. By researching the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecological well-being, the study explains how we can better limit the impact of emerging plant pathogens on health in general. Plant health remains underrepresented within One Health, making the study particularly important within the framework.
