In this special virtual issue of Historical Records of Australian Science we support the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). Plant health plays a vital role in ending global hunger, reducing poverty, protecting the environment, and boosting economic development. Successive Australian governments have placed a high priority on scientific research into plant health and this collection of articles exemplifies the quality of the work of Australian scientists. The articles discuss both processes that improve plant health and the careers of individual scientists who have played leading roles in research, education, policy and advocacy.

Sara Maroske and Ian Rae