The 12th of May is the UN International Day of Plant Health, an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of plant health in our daily lives. Many celebrations occur every year all over the world.

In 2020 the Plant Health TV video contest was organized by the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari) and the Euphresco network for phytosanitary research coordination and funding. 

The video, prepared by Sherry-Ann Brown, highlights a key pest, the Beet Armyworm Spodoptera exigua that affects the production of several crops in Jamaica.  Research studies were conducted to better understand the biology of the pest and a number of strategies employed in its management. These strategies include chemical and biological control methods as well as a pest forecasting system for ealy detection.