The Syrian Future Movement believes that commemorating this day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in an official resolution to raise global awareness of plant protection, on May 12th, is of paramount importance in the Syrian context.
Plant health is the cornerstone of food security, as humanity relies on plants for 80% of the food we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe.
The Syrian Future Movement bases its assessment on recent international reports (FAO 2025) indicating that plant pests and diseases cause the loss of up to 40% of global food crops annually.
These losses have been exacerbated in Syria by the lack of border controls on imported seedlings and seeds, and the decline in agricultural extension services, leaving strategic Syrian crops (such as wheat, olives, and cotton) vulnerable to unprecedented environmental and biological threats.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that protecting plant health in Syria is an integral part of national security. The Movement’s vision for the future links economic recovery with restoring soil and plant health, especially in light of climate change, which has made the region more vulnerable to drought and desertification. This necessitates adopting smart farming techniques and integrated pest management as an alternative to the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides.
The Syrian Future Movement believes it is essential to reactivate Syrian reference laboratories and link them to international organizations (such as the International Plant Protection Convention – IPPC) to ensure the quality and competitiveness of Syrian agricultural exports in global markets.
Our vision is based on transforming Syria from a country suffering from a food gap into one that invests in plant biotechnology to guarantee the sustainability of its resources for future generations.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that the reconstruction of Syria must begin with the land, by supporting Syrian farmers, providing them with native and disease-resistant seeds, and protecting the vegetation and forests that have been systematically degraded. It affirms that preserving the health of our plants is the only way to guarantee sufficient food, a clean environment, and a stable economy.
The Syrian Future Movement pledges to the sons of our people, especially our people in the productive Syrian countryside, that the file of agricultural development and the protection of natural resources will remain at the forefront of its national programs, in pursuit of a green, productive, and self-sufficient Syria.
