The Italian Society for Plant Pathology (SIPaV) was founded in 1992, to continue the societal and scientific activities of the Italian Society for Plant Protection and the Italian Phytopathologial Association, two older Societies that, following SIPaV's birth, became estinguished. Its current membership is of nearly 350, with expertise in most of the basic and applied aspects of Plant pathology.

SIPaV is a member of the Italian Association of Agricultural Scientific Societies (AISSA), the European Foundation for Plant Pathology (EFPP), the International Society for Plant Pathology (ISPP), the Italian Life Sciences Federation (FISV) and has ties with several European and Mediterranean phytopathological societies.

SIPaV promotes research and teaching in different fields of Plant pathology, diffuses knowledge on plant diseases and their agents, fosters collaboration and exchange of information among plant pathologists of institutions involved in basic and applied research, interacts on issues concerning plant health with national and international scientific organizations, technical State offices, and any other interested institution, promotes professional training, and keeps close contacts with the rural and technical world.

SIPaV organizes and sponsors national and international scientific meetings and holds an annual Congress, which each year addresses a different specific topic, and is open to the partecipation of technicians and pratictioners operating in the various sectors of Plant pathology. Specialized seminars and workshops with the partecipation of foreign experts are organized by "Study groups" dealing with specific subjects, that operate in the framework of the Society.

SIPaV editorial activity consists of the publication of an on-line bulletin and other bibliographic material to spread internal news and to host articles by both members and external contributors. It also publishes the "Journal of Plant Pathology", a peer-reviewed international periodical with roots in the former "Rivista di Patologia Vegetale", the second oldest phytopathological journal in the world, founded in 1892. In addition, it promotes the publication of, or cooperates in the editing of monographs and multimedial CD roms on various phytopathological subjects.