Beef value chain to reduce risk of FMD The possibilities were recently discussed to create a beef value chain that will reduce the possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). During a recently held workshop hosted by the five-nation Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), the opportunities for the integration of livestock agriculture and wildlife conservation was an effort to pilot new approaches for the safe trade of beef and beef products.
The workshop “Towards the implementation of commodity-based trade of beef in the KAZA TFCA” looked into opportunities for safely trading beef and its products based on the meat production process (also referred to as “commodity-based trade”), rather than solely on livestock''s geographic origin as defined by fencing.
It also discussed additional, environmentally-friendly ways to manage trade-sensitive animal diseases like FMD with an aim towards easing tensions at the livestock-wildlife interface.
According to the Meat Board of Namibia the workshop was well attended by government officials of the KAZA countries (Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola and Botswana), industry members, livestock disease experts and wildlife conservation experts.
The Meat Board said that from various presentations it was evident that the commodity-based trade concept provides an opportunity and solution to the marketing of beef from areas where FMD is endemic.
“The high value of the wildlife and tourism sector necessitates the simultaneous need for conservation in these same areas.”
It said that the commodity based trade concept provides for a risk based beef value chain whereby each step in the value chain reduces the risk for a possible outbreak of FMD caused by the introduction of chilled and frozen beef into areas free from the disease.
The Meat Board explained that a quantitative risk assessment for beef produced in accordance with this concept shows that the risk is one in a million, and can be considered as negligible.
“Commodity-based trade in beef is an opportunity to improve the livelihood of communities based in the conservation areas. Issues like the control of FMD outbreaks will also have to be addressed if commodity-based trade is to remain a feasible and sustainable option.”
STAFF REPORTER