Page 8 - Australian Pork Newspaper

Urgent call for food supply chain to be listed as an essential service
Confirmed incursion of African swine fever in Papua New Guinea
THE Australian Ani- mal Health Laborato- ry has confirmed the incursion of African swine fever in Papua New Guinea.
sary attention and re- sources to where it is needed will be chal- lenging.
found that two of the five pigs investigated from the Mendi area of Southern Highlands Province were positive for ASF, and negative for anthrax and classi- cal swine fever.
The National Agri- culture Quarantine and Inspection Authority of PNG raised their alert level and have imposed a quarantine zone at the affected region in the Southern Highlands Province.
A widespread outbreak of porcine virus would be devastating for the re- gional economy.
Confirmation of ASF could not have come at a worse time.
Preliminary testing on the samples was un- dertaken by NAQIA in Port Moresby.
NAQIA advised they raised their ASF alert to red and the Minister immediately declared a quarantine area.
PNG is struggling to respond to COVID-19, and getting the neces-
The AAHL results
Focus is on containing the outbreak in Mendi, through strict move- ment of live pigs to pre- vent further spread.
Confirmation of ASF followed re-testing of tissue samples sourced from pigs that had died in suspicious circum- stances in the town of Mendi and the sur- rounding area.
At the time of writing, the results for the other pigs were yet to be con- firmed.
Photo: Remi Yuan
Following the re- striction of movement, NAQIA proposed to undertake a delimit- ing survey to establish any spread of ASF to surrounding communi- ties before deciding on eradication of any pig populations.
NAQIA advised that screening had been ac- tioned by the Southern Highlands provincial team but that additional logistic support would be needed.
THE nation’s leading organic industry body, Australian Organic, is joining the National Farmers’ Federation in making an urgent call for agriculture and the food supply chain to be deemed an essential ser- vice, for the purpose of the COVID-19 response.
Australian Organic CEO Niki Ford said: “As a member of the NFF, we have been in weekly meetings with them to support focus in the agri- cultural area, and now more than ever given the current crisis, will con- tinue to back them.”
to ensuring modern farm- ing is not only viable and sustainable but contin- ues its vital and growing contribution to the nation despite any challenging circumstances.
Beef dominates in the meat sector with around 87 percent of value, lamb comprises the bulk of the remaining 13 percent in addition to organic pork, goat and aquaculture.
Photo: Kate Trysh
Vegetable production dominates in the fruit, vegetable and nut sector, with three-quarters of the sector value.
“The continued pro- vision of quality fresh produce is paramount to safeguarding the wellbe- ing and health of the na- tion.
“The NFF is committed
“The organic agricul- tural sector makes up a significant portion of the industry, and we will be endeavouring to make sure the needs of organic growers are met during these difficult times.”
Poultry products are fairly evenly weighted between eggs and poultry meat in terms of value.
The 2019 Australian Organic Market Report reveals that the current area of land under certi- fied organic management in Australia is over 35 million hectares (about 9.6 percent of farmland) – more than half of all certified land area on the earth.
NFF president Fiona Simson said her organi- sation had been in dis- cussions with the gov- ernment with regard to the critical importance of a reliable food supply chain.
There are currently more than 2000 certified organic primary produc- ers in Australia including farmers, graziers, apia- rists and wild harvesters.
“The NFF has been as- sured that agriculture and the food supply chain will not be interrupted, de- spite the closure of travel between some states,” she said.
“This is in line with the Prime Minister’s com- mitment to prioritising lives and livelihoods.
“Our state farming member organisations have been having similar conversations with their state governments.”
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Ms Simson said the confirmation of agricul- ture as an essential ser- vice, by the states and the Commonwealth as a collective, would guaran- tee measures to control the spread of COVID-19 and did not inadvertently obstruct food production and supply.
“The agriculture indus- try takes human health seriously and is taking appropriate measures to ensure this is a priority.
“That being said, the transport of produce from farm to market must be able to happen unob- structed – this includes across state borders.
“Likewise, for the logis- tics that ensure the flow of essential agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and crop protection prod- ucts.”
Ms Simson said discus- sions also remain active about how to protect the workforce of key facili- ties such as abattoirs, should there be a positive COVID-19 test.
Page 8 – Australian Pork Newspaper, April 2020
“In our discussions with government, the NFF has reiterated the farm sector’s commitment to playing its vital role in ensuring Australians con- tinue to have access to the quality, fresh groceries they depend on in these uncertain and challeng- ing times.”
“We understand a list of essential services may be developed by states,” she said.
“It is absolutely critical that there is consistency across states in the recog- nition of the importance of food production and the supply chain.
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