#PlantHealth4Life, the initiative aiming to raise awareness among those travelling outside Europe about the importance of not bringing plants, seeds, flowers, fruit or vegetables back home.

Whether your next travel experience involves cycle tourism, trekking or a sailing adventure, whether you're seeking thrills, relaxation or a cultural experience, remember that every action we take when we travel says something about us. This is what the principles of conscious tourism teach us — a vision of travel that meets the needs of travellers and host regions alike, while at the same time protecting habitats, respecting biodiversity and, wherever possible, improving opportunities for the future.

Summer holidays are approaching, and whatever destination or mode of travel you choose (ideally the train, forms of shared transport, or if it must be a car, preferably electric), the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, promoted by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, and the European Commission in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, reminds us of the connection between people, travel, plant health and the environment.

#PlantHealth4Life, now in its third edition, aims through its messages to create a new kind of traveller — "citizens who become ambassadors for plant health," a press release states. This is followed by a warning: "Be careful not to import plants, seeds, flowers, fruit or vegetables when returning from a trip outside the EU: they pose a serious risk to our plants, ecosystems and agricultural and natural environment."

This immediately brings to mind past travel experiences and those who, perhaps innocently, returned from a trip carrying a small botanical souvenir. Think about it carefully: that little plant picked during a trek in the Andes, a sprig of Australian eucalyptus as a memento, the exotic fruit bought at a market in Bangkok to share with friends back home. Seemingly harmless gestures that conceal an invisible danger — more than one, in fact — as the European Food Safety Authority has highlighted by sounding a genuine alarm through #PlantHealth4Life.

The story of Xylella is a telling example of how devastating a "travelling" harmful organism can be. This pathogenic bacterium, which probably arrived in Europe from the Americas through imported plants, was first identified in Puglia in October 2013. The result? A true environmental and economic catastrophe, which we have documented in the past — a serial killer that, especially in Puglia, has desiccated and killed, or worse, condemned to uprooting, millions of olive trees, causing enormous economic losses and threatening Europe's olive heritage and Mediterranean biodiversity.

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The point is that "a plant is not just a plant; it can also carry other living organisms with it," as Giuseppe Stancanelli of EFSA reminds us. "In our interconnected world, plants move more than ever. That is why the EU relies on science-based risk assessment to understand and manage potential threats to plant health."

With summer holidays approaching and international travel picking up again, the message of the #PlantHealth4Life campaign becomes even more important. A loud and clear message: never bring plants, seeds, flowers, fruit or vegetables back from trips outside the EU. And the reason is easy to explain: even a tiny seed, or an apparently harmless piece of fruit, can pose an enormous danger to our ecosystems.

Harmful organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, but also insects and mites — can hide in any plant material and, once introduced into new territories, can proliferate unchecked. And for those inclined to be a little careless, here is a simple tip: "If you take care when packing to check that pockets and compartments contain no plants or plant products, you can avoid bringing unwanted guests on board," stresses Bruno Caio Faraglia, director of the Central Phytosanitary Service.

European legislation is also there to help us, and it is very clear on the matter: all plants and plant products, including cut flowers, must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate in order to legally enter the EU. This document, issued by the national authorities of third countries, certifies that the products are free from harmful organisms. Professional gardeners are well acquainted with this requirement and, for this reason, typically turn to reliable European retailers who are required to issue a plant passport guaranteeing phytosanitary health.

Climate change and the increase in global travel and trade are intensifying pressure on our ecosystems, which is also why the European Union has drawn up a list of high-risk plants to help identify the most dangerous species.

But how does a conscious traveller behave? Beyond the mode of travel, one of the fundamental aspects is the approach to the history, culture and way of life of a people — in whose diversity lies the added value. A spirit of respect that, as we have often explained, cannot be separated from respect for the habitat one comes into contact with, along with its biodiversity that must be preserved. And here #PlantHealth4Life reminds us that becoming "ambassadors for plant health" requires only small gestures.

Experts' tips, before, during and after a trip:

The #PlantHealth4Life campaign, now in its third year, has grown rapidly and today involves 26 EU member states, 5 candidate countries and Switzerland. Italy is participating for the first time, alongside Austria, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Romania. There is just one simple thing to keep in mind every time we travel: a plant is not just a plant; it can also carry other living organisms with it.