Asunción, 12 April 2024 (IICA) – In Paraguay, ministers and high-ranking authorities from the agricultural sector of countries on the American continent, heads of national health services and representatives of multilateral organizations agreed on the need to quickly strengthen health surveillance systems animal health in the face of new threats, as a way of strengthening the region’s position as a major global protein producer and exporter.

The international seminar “Animal health and its contribution to the transformation of food systems in the Americas” met in Asunción, Paraguay, with the presence of the country’s President, Santiago Peña, and authorities from 23 nations, including ministers and vice-ministers of agriculture, heads of health services and representatives of international organizations.

The high-level event, in which an in-depth exchange of information was formulated on current challenges, trends and experiences in combating zoonoses that threaten health, production, the environment, jobs, exports and food and nutritional security , was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) of Paraguay, the country’s National Animal Health and Quality Service (SENACSA), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay, Carlos Giménez, highlighted the importance of family farming’s contributions to animal health and the need for all farmers to actively participate in strengthening health. “The public-private partnership is important so that our product continues to be sought after and have access to markets. We are in a highly integrative meeting, and it is important that our work is based on science”, he indicated.

Manuel Otero, General Director of IICA and Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay and President of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA).

Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay and President of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (JIA), IICA’s highest governing body, representing 34 countries in the Americas, highlighted “the importance of holding these forums more frequently to strengthen services health systems and their integration, in order to eradicate diseases in animals. We must highlight the work being carried out and, above all, aim for general integration with regulatory policies so that we have a faster defense and surveillance mechanism and response team.”

And he added: “This region is fundamental to what the world needs. We must call for greater consideration and take our voices to national forums, so that the voice of the Americas carries greater weight.”

The forum also discussed issues such as the future challenges of the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA) and the impacts of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever and avian influenza on the sustainability of agricultural business. There was also talk about the importance of partnerships between public sector agencies and great recognition was made of the value and importance of veterinary animal health services for the countries’ objectives.

Aspects such as challenges, threats and trends in the new disease map were other relevant topics covered at the seminar.

“Agri-food systems are transforming. Very profound changes are taking place, such as the technological revolution, the frontier of knowledge and the climate crisis. We must analyze threats and transform them into opportunities. The Americas generate 30% of the food that is exported, and Latin America and the Caribbean represent the most important net export region in the world. Together, we are the guarantors of the planet’s food security. We have a lot to change, but we have a central role and we need to defend this condition, as we are fundamental actors not only in this, but also in the future”, said the General Director of IICA, Manuel Otero.

Carlos Giménez, highlighted the importance of family farming’s contributions to animal health and the need for all farmers to actively participate in strengthening health.

“The essence of this seminar is precisely to encourage dialogue, find consensual positions to strengthen our importance as a region. The global agenda requires that agriculture be seen in a systemic way, from production to consumption. There cannot be a systemic vision if we do not defend the centrality of rurality, where 90% of food is produced and where the quality of biodiversity is defined”, he added.

In turn, Pedro Martel, Head of the Environment, Rural Development and Disaster Risk Management Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), highlighted that 40% of Latin America’s agricultural GDP comes from livestock farming. “There is a lot of talk about the agricultural aspect, but not so much about livestock farming. We must put this in economic terms beyond exports. There is more talk about generating foreign currency and less about generating employment. It is important to highlight the importance of rurality and the well-being of rural populations. Another no less important issue is climate change. We must reduce environmental damage. Another point I would like to highlight is the increase in livestock productivity and work related to animal health. Without animal health there will be no increase in productivity”, he highlighted.

José Carlos Martín Camperchioli, President of the National Animal Health and Quality Service of Paraguay (SENACSA), highlighted the importance of the region’s and his country’s position as food suppliers and called for reinforcing this position with prevention in the face of new threats. “For 2050, we have an important challenge. Food production is expected to increase by 60%. Paraguay has the potential to be a fundamental actor in this contribution. Today, it produces for more than 80 million people, 15 times the Paraguayan population”, he indicated.

Fernando Vilella, Secretary of Bioeconomy of Argentina, outlined an overview of the future of food security, identified trends in terms of future challenges for animal health and incorporated the vision of bioeconomy into the debate, as a path to adding value in the region.

“There are no borders for diseases, what there is is the need to carry out a common discourse and transform our reality. Agri-food systems deserve a systemic vision that can better encompass the solution; The bioeconomy approach, as we understand it, is an approach linked to territorial development that takes the environment and population into account. We are not the problem, we are the solution. Food security needs us, and we must continue together, hence the need for a common discourse”, he emphasized.

Manuel Otero observed that agri-food systems are transforming, and very profound changes are taking place, such as the technological revolution, the frontier of knowledge and the climate crisis, so that threats must be analyzed and transformed into opportunities.

The Vice Minister of Agricultural Extension and Training of the Dominican Republic, Darío Vargas Mena, described his country’s challenge in combating swine fever, described the implications of the dramatic situation in Haiti and highlighted the importance of collective action to strengthen the health situation animal in countries.

“We are a small country, but we feed many. What stands out in my country is trade. There is a big challenge: adapting the service structure. It is about adapting health, agricultural health and food health services”, he indicated.

Hugo Idoyaga, President of the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA), recalled that “addressing these issues requires global collaboration and deepening efforts among all governments, international organizations and scientific bodies”.