Sustainability of agricultural growth is dependent upon crop health, as plant pathogens are
one of the major constraints in achieving the high yields in agriculture. The target "Food for
all" can be achieved by avoiding nearly 30 per cent global crop loss caused by the pathogens
and other pests. There is a paradigm shift in agricultural scenario under World Trade
Organization (WTO) regime due to removal of quantitative restrictions on movement of
agricultural produce. Convention on Biological Diversity and other agriculture related
agreements under Agreement on Agriculture of WTO, International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture by the member countries of different economic status
have given new dimensions to perspectives in transboundary movement of plant pathogens.
Under globalized era, plant pathogens have become trade barriers and movement of the
produce has to be governed by the guidelines issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission
and the International Plant Protection Convention. The focus is "protect to prosper". The
Indian Phytopathological Society in association with the institutes of Indian Council of
Agricultural Research located in and around New Delhi has thus planned to organize the 5th
International Conference on "Plant Pathology in the Globalized Era" from November 10 -13,
2009 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India to promote exchange of
knowledge and facilitate cross fertility of ideas among the fellow scientists with common
goals.
