Representatives of 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries, selected on their risk of ASF entry, pig production, and experience in public-private partnerships, met at an international workshop held in Panama City, Panama on June 13 and 14, titled ”Public-private partnerships for the control, eradication, and prevention of African swine fever.”
Increased cross-border movement of people, animals, and products, alongside changes in agroecological conditions and more intensive production systems, have intensified the spread of transboundary animal diseases (TADs). For example, the reintroduction of African swine fever (ASF) into the Dominican Republic and Haiti in 2021, more than 40 years after its eradication from the region, has caused concern and highlighted the need to coordinate efforts for its control and prevention.
As part of the joint efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) under the Global Framework for the progressive control of TADs in the Americas (GF-TADs), a workshop was held on public-private partnerships (PPP) for the control, eradication, and prevention of African swine fever.
The main objective of the initiative was to promote collaboration between the public and private sectors to address ASF in the Americas. Chile was represented by Ignacio Antonio Marchant, a veterinarian from ChileCarne. The workshop also had representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
During the sessions, mechanisms were established to strengthen PPPs for the prevention, preparedness, and response to ASF-related emergencies. The participants shared experiences and knowledge, and drafted public-private agreements for the countries involved.
Emphasis was placed on the role of public-private collaboration to deal with animal health emergencies, highlighting the need for joint work and the diversification of actions and coverage. Practical recommendations and specific experiences related to ASF in Latin American and the Caribbean were also gathered to produce a guidance document.
This workshop demonstrates the commitment of Latin American countries to strengthen the public-private partnership to deal with this and other animal diseases.
