Addis Ababa, September 23, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopian delegation, led by Minister of Agriculture Mr. Girma Amente, is participating at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Global Conference on Animal Health Innovation, Reference Centres and Vaccines in Rome, Italy.
FAO today opened its first-ever Global Conference on Animal Health Innovation, Reference Centres and Vaccines, aimed at tackling animal diseases costing the world hundreds of billions of dollars annually and posing a threat to human health, global food security and livelihoods. The inaugural event is being held from 23-25 September under the theme “Improving animal health for sustainable livestock transformation and One Health implementation”.
The event aims to advance global efforts to enhance animal health, prevent disease outbreaks, and promote sustainable livestock production and One Health implementation, all while protecting human health and food security.
In his speech during the opening session, Minister Girma Amente stressed the importance of animal health and innovation and preventive vaccines production and distribution to other African countries.
The Ethiopian agriculture minister also appreciated FAO, WHO and UNICEF for their unreserved support for the protection and eradication of transboundary pandemic diseases and strengthening one health approach.
He has also shared his country’s success histories in the Green Legacy, Bounty of the Basket (YeLemat Trufat), irrigated wheat production and other initiatives in the area of agriculture.
“The productivity and resilience of livestock systems worldwide are threatened by infectious diseases, emerging pathogens, endemic disease burdens, and climate change,” FAO Chief Scientist ad interim Beth Crawford said in opening remarks. Addressing these challenges calls for “a united effort, leveraging our collective expertise and resources,” she added.
The three-day event represents a “unique opportunity to explore how to integrate existing mechanisms and knowledge with new and improved tools to reduce the global burden of animal disease,” Crawford said.