Visit from Ethiopian Minister for Livestock and Fisheries

ACIAR welcomed a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Canberra last week. Led by the State Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Gebregziabher Gebre Yohannes, the group of agricultural researchers from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and the Ethiopia Policy Study and Research Centre met with the CEO and Research Program Managers (RPMs) to discuss synergies between ACIAR’s work in Africa and livestock research for development in Ethiopia.

Biosecurity: international dimensions, threats and strategies

The topic of ‘Biosecurity: international dimensions, threats and strategies’ was addressed by ACIAR’s CEO Dr Nick Austin at a panel discussion hosted by the Rural Press Club of Victoria on 18 July 2014. In his presentation Dr Austin spoke about some of the significant contributions ACIAR-funded research has made to address issues of biosecurity internationally and in Australia. He also announced the funding of a new initiative to build plant biosecurity skills in eastern Africa. ACIAR produced a brochure highlighting the contribution of ACIAR partnerships with Victorian research agencies for the event.

A farmer field school in Fiji

Markets for healthy farm poultry in Indonesia

'Healthy Farm' branded eggs being market tested in a supermarket

Is there demand in Indonesia for niche branded poultry products that can ensure they were produced on biosecure smallholder farms?

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research has released a new report about a research project that developed such a niche market in Indonesia for eggs and chicken meat. 

The poultry industry is a major supplier of protein to the people of Indonesia. Biosecurity on smallholder poultry farms and a safe and hygienic value chain are becoming increasingly important to consumers and government because of the risks of avian influenza and other diseases.

Biosecurity under the microscope in South-East Asia

The marvels of modern technology are enabling border inspectors, scientists and farmers in South-East Asia to consult live with experts across the world and identify serious plant pests...

Lao PDRs’ and Cambodia’s plant biosecurity system is very limited, largely due to lack of local expertise, equipment and communication networks. A strong capability in research and diagnostics is a crucial part of protecting agricultural industries from damaging pests, managing borders against pest incursions, and meeting requirements for trade.

Identifying incoming pests and diseases is essential for biosecurity
(image: G. Kong)

Thinking outside the square to increase impact

Livestock diseases have a big impact on countries and people in the Mekong. They stop livestock movement, cause the loss of productive livestock and restrict trade. Some diseases can also be transmitted to people.
Every year thousands of livestock are traded between Mekong countries, potentially spreading serious diseases. As an indication, in 2008-09 up to 15,000 head of cattle per month were reported to have transited from Thailand through southern Laos into Vietnam.

Although the trade on this route has now dwindled to a trickle — mainly because of changes in exchange rates that made the trade less profitable — animals still move in large numbers to different destinations. The common factor in this trade is the trader and the trader networks that facilitate it.

The livestock trade in the Mekong is a potential risk in the spread of serious diseases such as foot and mouth disease or classical swine fever. What can be done to manage that risk?