Vietnam-Australia pig biosecurity alliance to bolster efforts against ASF
Vietnam and Australia launched the National Innovation Alliance for Pig Biosecurity.This is a collaboration between the Australian government’s Aus4Innovation programme and the National Institute of Animal Sciences under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The collaboration aims to improve biosecurity and capture innovation opportunities at the smallholder level, to cushion Vietnam’s pig farming industry against ASF.
The Vietnam Investment Review reports that the National Innovation Alliance for Pig Biosecurity was launched on June 26, introducing a platform for enabling innovation in pig farming. At the event launch, critical findings from a comprehensive study on the vulnerability of smallholder pig farmers to biosecurity risks and diseases were shared.
Aus4Innovation
Aus4Innovation supports the study and alliance. This is a 10-year (2018-2028) A$33.5 million ($22.26 million) flagship programme with the goal to strengthen Vietnam’s innovation system. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funds the programme. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) – Australia’s national science agency manages and co-funds it. Its is delivered in a strategic partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
ASF wreaked havoc in Vietnam
The pressing need to bolster Vietnam’s pig farming industry against African Swine Fever (ASF) has never been more urgent. Since 2019, the ASF epidemic has wreaked havoc, with smallholders, who compose 99.8% of the industry significantly affected due to poor biosecurity measures. The inauguration of the alliance and the revelations from the pilot study underscore the commitment to elevating biosecurity as a frontline defence against ASF and other diseases.
Secure, sustainable future for pig farming in Vietnam
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam H.E. Andrew Goledzinowski said, “The launch of the alliance is a foundational step towards a secure, sustainable future for pig farming in Vietnam. Adopting innovative biosecurity practices is pivotal not only to improving the livelihoods of farmers but also to ensuring the resilience of the food supply chain and managing the environmental impact. Our financial and technical support to the alliance underpins Australia’s unwavering dedication to serving as Vietnam’s trusted partner in innovation and scientific advancement, thereby strengthening the strategic partnership between our nations.”
Kim Wimbush, CSIRO Counselor and Director of the Aus4Innovation programme, said, “Through the CSIRO managed Aus4Innovation programme, we can strengthen the alliance by way of a comprehensive support strategy. We will provide financial resources to fuel the activities of the alliance. Moreover, we will actively seek out and deliver expert assistance, offer research advice, and support implementation efforts. Our role also encompasses facilitating and enhancing interactions among members and other elements within the innovation ecosystem to successfully commercialise Vietnam-Australia research outcomes.”
Echoing the sentiments, Dr Pham Cong Thieu, General Director of the National Institute of Animal Sciences emphasised, “This alliance marks a proactive move to elevate the standards of Vietnamese pig farming. On the other hand, this insightful research offers a gateway to developing targeted vulnerability and resilience assessment tools, significantly contributing to our collective efforts in safeguarding the pig farming industry.”
ASF outbreaks in Vietnam
According to Reuters, ASF outbreaks are spreading in Vietnam and could affect its food supplies and put upward pressure on inflation, according to a government document. “The risk of wider spread of the disease is very high, and it can affect food supplies, consumer prices and the environment,” said the Vietnamese government document. An increase in pork prices due to ASF in some localities was among the causes for Vietnam’s higher consumer price index in June 2024, according to the General Statistics Office. Foodstuff prices rose 3.23% in the month against the same period of 2023, official data showed.
Vietnam has culled 42,400 infected pigs so far this year, the document said, up by nearly 5 times that of the same period last year. The Southeast Asian country has this year (2024) detected 660 ASF outbreaks nationwide, compared to 208 outbreaks during the same period last year. The government in the document ordered provinces to deploy measures to curb the spread, including prioritising funds for vaccinating pigs against the disease.
Rise of live pig prices
According to the Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in the first quarter of 2024, Vietnam imported 11,450 tons of pork, worth USD 25.98 million, down 12.5% in volume and 18.9% in value compared to the same period in 2023, Vietnam Agriculture reports. The decrease in pork imports triggered a rise in the prices of live pigs.
Reuters reports live pig prices in Vietnam increased, following the September 2024 typhoon Yagi and subsequent flooding which affected several pig farms in the country, which has already been hit by ASF outbreaks in recent years. The natural disaster has worsened the increase in the price of live pigs which was already high during the first quarter due to a decrease in pork imports.
“The floods might have also disrupted pork supply chains and prompted some traders to raise their live pig prices,” said Nguyen Xuan Duong, chairman of the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam.
Forecast 2025
Amid the upward trend in pork prices, numerous livestock enterprises have been intensifying their efforts to restock their herds, anticipating price increases throughout the year. In general, the price of live pigs will remain high until the first quarter of 2025.
Join 18,000+ subscribers
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated about all the need-to-know content in the pigsector, three times a week.
