The Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) successfully hosted the valedictory function of the International Conference on ‘One Health Perspectives in Global Plant Protection Research’

Organized by the Centre for Plant Protection Studies, the three-day event brought together over 466 delegates, researchers, and around 45 online and offline keynote and lead speakers. Participants included policymakers, industry professionals, and progressive farmers from India and across six continents, including Australia, Taiwan, France, Italy, Kenya, the United States, Colombia, Germany, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

The conference focused on eleven key themes, covering topics such as biosystematics, invasive species, climate change impact, artificial intelligence in pest management, and policy regulations in plant protection.

P. Senthil Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, delivered the valedictory address, emphasizing the importance of a holistic "One Health" approach that integrates agriculture, veterinary sciences, and human health. He highlighted the advancements in disease diagnosis and the critical role played by agricultural and veterinary institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He further stressed the significance of blending traditional and modern technologies to minimize ecological disruptions and promote sustainable living. He discussed the emergence of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and the impact of climate change on human and animal disease spread, calling for robust quarantine measures to prevent epidemics.

P. K. Singh, Agricultural Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India,; P. Sivakumar, IFS, Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles; C. Thirumala Rao, DDM, NABARD, Coimbatore; M. Shanthi, Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies and a few others addressed the gathering.

Experts also deliberated on genomic data utilization in pest management, climate-resilient microbiomes, AI-driven pest and disease diagnosis, and computational tools for data analysis. Research on nanopesticides, RNAi techniques, and climate-adaptive crop varieties was also emphasized.

The conference concluded with the presentation of awards for outstanding research contributions and the release of textbooks and digital study materials.