Dear IPRRG members,

All of us have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools, offices, restaurants and public spaces are closed in many countries, and large social gatherings have been discouraged, if not banned. There are restrictions on both international and domestic travel. In some parts of the world, residents have been ordered to stay at home. “Social distancing” has become the catch-cry everywhere. Economic markets are in turmoil. Perhaps worst of all, it is unclear when the situation is likely to improve. Even the most optimistic estimates suggest it will be a matter of months, not weeks, before we start to gain control over the pandemic.

The IPRRG Executive Committee was looking forward to hosting our annual meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in September 2020, with support from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and CABI.  This was to be our first meeting in Africa!  However, because of the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19, we have decided to postpone the meeting until 2021. As an alternative, the Executive Committee is currently developing options for online engagement in the coming months. We intend to share details about these developments in the near future. Please stay tuned!

In the meantime, please feel free to contact any Executive Committee officer if you have any questions or concerns. Please stay safe.

IPRRG Executive Committee