New Synthetic and Natural, Environmentally Safe Compounds Used in Plants and Seeds Protection

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are an important element of the natural environment and a regulator of the climate we live in, including the air we breathe. They are also the main food resources for humans and animals. It is estimated that 80% of the food we eat is of plant origin.

Plant protection and caring for their health is a difficult task, but it is a key aspect of the functioning of various ecosystems. Annually, we lose up to 40% of food crops due to diseases and pests. This situation has a negative impact on agriculture and, above all, on the food supply of millions of people. The emergence of new and the intensification of existing diseases and pests of plants mean that their spread is favored, among others, by climate change, increased agricultural production, trade, and the movement of goods and people.

Pesticides have been used in agriculture for many years to protect plants and improve their health. Every year, concerns regarding the impact of these preparations on the environment and the organisms living in it are growing. The control of pests and plant diseases with hazardous chemicals often induces additional stress on the environment. They are toxic to pollinating insects, various organisms living in this environment, as well as humans and animals that consume plants. For this reason, for several years, including in the European Union, great emphasis has been placed on the production and application of modern preparations for plant protection. These are not only supposed to effectively affect the health of crops and forests but also be safe for the environment.

In order to raise the awareness of people around the world regarding the importance of protecting plant health, 2020 was declared the International Year of Plant Health by the United Nations. In many countries, projects and works are carried out to modernize the plant protection system and to promote more effective measures that are safe for the environment. The research results obtained in them can be reflected in the form of publications in a Special Issue devoted to these issues.

Dr. Anna Koziróg
Dr. Hubert Antolak
Dr. Katarzyna Dybka-Stępień
Guest Editors

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