Brussels, 10 June 2010 – Today, the International Federation for Animal Health-Europe (IFAH-Europe) used its annual conference in Brussels to call on Europe’s decision-makers to address the global food crisis. As the world’s population continues to grow, and more and more households in emerging economies join the world’s middle class, the demand for animal protein is expected to double by 2050.
IFAH-Europe believes there is an urgent need for realistic policies to address this challenge and the role the animal health industry can play in partnership with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the European institutions, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and partners along the food chain.
George Alagiah, the BBC broadcaster and journalist, opened the conference by setting the scene, highlighting how the world needs to increase food production by 100% by the year 2050 in order to sustain itself. Protein derived from animals, whether meat, eggs, dairy, honey or fish are valuable parts of the global diet. However, at present, 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat, 907 million of these live in the developing world.
“20% of animal productivity is lost due to diseases in animals. We know that in some regions of the world, the need for animal protein is simply not met. Preventing and controlling existing diseases such as coccidiosis, tuberculosis, salmonella, bluetongue and foot and mouth disease along with emerging diseases plays a huge role in safeguarding livestock to feed the world population.” explained Jeff Simmons, President of Elanco Animal Health.
Bernard Vallat, recently reappointed Director General of the World Animal Health Organisation, OIE, called for Europe to think beyond its boundaries and support animal health in developing countries: “Losses in diseases in farmed animals are particularly felt in developing countries whose livelihood is very dependent on animal production. Two-thirds of the world’s poorest rely on their food-producing animals for their survival. It is therefore extremely important to help developing countries to strengthen their veterinary services and laboratory capacity to enable them to assure prevention, early detection and control of animal diseases.”
Improving the health of livestock requires high quality veterinary medicines and innovative technologies. 70% of the additional food supply needed for 2050 will have to come from modern technologies. Sadly, the developing world is heavily burdened by infectious disease, with Africa having the heaviest burdens of infectious and protozoal diseases in the world. 12 of the 15 major emerging diseases are present in Africa. “Due to their limited access to products and services, 25% of livestock keepers’ animals die each year from diseases that could be controlled through therapy or vaccination”, stressed Baptiste Dungu from GALVmed, an alliance of public, private and government partners to make livestock vaccines, diagnostics and medicines accessible, affordable and available to poor livestock keepers.
“The European animal health industry needs the right framework to allow innovation to thrive so that we can target diseases worldwide that cause the worst productivity losses. European leaders have a responsibility to create an environment stimulating the research and development of new medicines. This is vital to protect both animal health and public health through the food chain, thereby safeguarding food production”, concluded Declan O’Brien, Managing Director of IFAH-Europe.
- Ends -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
IFAH-Europe is the representative body of manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in Europe. It is a member of the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH), an international non-profit organisation registered under Belgian law. For further information on IFAH-Europe, please visit www.ifaheurope.org
Speakers at the conference:
Declan O’Brien - Managing Director, IFAH-Europe
Jochen Wieda - Chairman, IFAH-Europe
George Alagiah - BBC journalist
Jeff Simmons - CEO, Elanco Animal Health
Valentín Almansa - Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU
Baptiste Dungu - Senior Director R&D, GALVmed
Bernard Vallat - Director General, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Dieter Schillinger - Chair, IFAH-Europe Food Chain Committee
Frans van Knapen – Professor, University of Utrecht
Knud Buhl - Director, Danish Bacon and Meat Council (DBMC)
Hans Martens – Chief Executive, European Policy Centre
Jim Scudamore - Consultant, European Technology Platform for Global Animal Health (ETPGAH)
Pekka Pesonen - Secretary General, European Farmers and Agri Co-operatives (COPA-COGECA)
Paola Testori-Coggi - Director General, European Commission Directorate General Health and Consumers (DG SANCO)
Samuel Jutzi – Director, Animal Production and Health Division, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
