RIYADH — The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa Center) launched on Tuesday “The Healthier Choice” campaign to promote integrated plant pest management and more effective agricultural practices, based on the principle that healthy food starts with healthy plants. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Khuraiji, head of the Plant Health Sector at Weqaa Center, said: “The campaign aims to establish integrated plant pest management as a sustainable approach that supports food security and helps protect human health and the environment. Pest management does not always depend on chemical control. It begins with visual inspection, trap-based monitoring, and accurate pest identification to determine the most appropriate intervention. The campaign focuses on providing reliable information and promoting long-term prevention by combining agricultural, biological, and mechanical methods, helping reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.” The campaign targets farmers, agricultural workers, partners, and relevant stakeholders through digital and press content, educational materials, and field activities designed to make integrated plant pest management easier to understand and apply in practice. The campaign comes as Weqaa Center’s plant health efforts cover 80 percent of agricultural areas in the Kingdom, with 20 priority plant pests identified to guide monitoring and control activities. These efforts aim to strengthen crop protection and agricultural production while supporting product quality, market confidence, and consumer trust.