The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Strengthening Food Systems Globally

Surveillance to “Sousveillance”: New Models for Cooperation

Presented to

Committee On Achieving Sustainable Global Capacity For Surveillance and Response to Emerging Diseases of Zoonotic Origin

September 30, 2008

Woods Hole, MA

Background• World population is projected to grow 50% by 2050

• From 6.5 billion today to an estimated 9 billion• Most growth coming from the developing world

• Meat & poultry consumption to increase 75% by 2030• 24% in developed nations• 113% in transition and developing nations

• Rising demand for animal feed & nutritional solutions • Resources (land, freshwater, labor) to produce food are

increasingly limited in many regions of the world• Supply/demand imbalances require global food system

Animal Health Concerns• Disrupt lives, societies and supply chains• Can adversely impact consumer confidence• Often inflict huge economic damages• Are increasing in frequency and severity due

to the convergence of multiple drivers

70% of known pathogens are zoonotic meaning they are transmissible between animals and people

• Food-borne, environmental and direct animal contact• Virus evolution into new strains (ex: pandemic)

The Perfect StormConvergence of social, economic, biological

and environmental factors

• Higher human population & shift to urban dwelling• Increased movement of people, animals and goods• Changing weather conditions affecting geographic

distribution of vectors and host susceptibility• Increased food animal populations in the developing

world raised under non-biocontained conditions• Underdeveloped veterinary public health infrastructure

especially in developing countries

Fosters emergence and re-emergence of disease in human, animal and wildlife populations

In Reality• Few animal diseases can be eradicated globally• Disease agents have no borders• Animal health concerns, both real and perceived, are often

used to restrict market access• Governments alone can not effectively manage risk• However animal health risks can be managed

– Prevention & control is more effective than a crisis response

– Early detection & planning facilitates response & recovery

– Public & animal health protections can be implemented while allowing for the safe movement of many products regardless of the animal health status of a country or region

The Future• Emerging diseases become the “Norm”• The connectivity between human, animal & wildlife health

is considered into the design of food systems• Acceptance of compartmentalized animal production

systems are crucial to open market flow of products • Strategic investment to strengthen veterinary public health

infrastructure & “good governance” is needed• Leadership development in the field of veterinary public

health is critical to safeguard the food supply

ADDRESS ISSUES THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Global Food Companies + Academia + NGO’sin Dialogue

withIntergovernmental Organizations

FacilitatingPublicPublic--Private PartnershipsPrivate Partnerships

Key stakeholders think globally, act locally• Global food system companies

– Input suppliers, production, processing, wholesale, retail, food service

• Inter-governmental organizations– OIE, FAO, WHO, World Bank

• Academia– Non-aligned expertise and facilitation

• Multinational non-governmental organizations

Traditional Stakeholder Roles

• Independent, competing• Different priorities• Internally focused• Arms-length relations• Diverging success metrics• National/self interests

Academia

Govn’t FoodSystems

An Opportunity to Change the ParadigmsFAOWHO

World BankOIE

FoodSystems

Academia

• Move from adversaries to partners• Create Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP)

– sharing risk & responsibility• Promote linkages among public health,

animal health & food safety• Focus on global food supply • Leverage marketing & communications

channels to promote implementation of international standards for safe food and trade

SSAFE VisionStrengthening the Food Safety System Globally

• Support an uninterrupted, sustainable food supply chain to and from all countries

– consistent, affordable source of animal food products everywhere in the world

• Protect human and animal health – through science-based standards and their global

implementation (Codex, OIE)• Help nations to strengthen infrastructure

capacity – feed their population, increase stability, promote

economic growth and stimulate education

SSAFE: Integrating Different Perspectives

SSAFE

Animal Health

Public Health

Global Food

Systems

Socio-Economic

Factors

SSAFE Goals

• Advise intergovernmental organizations• Provide a safe harbor for dialogue • Align food system stakeholders • Leverage resources • Advocate harmonized policies and

actions

NOTE: SSAFE is NOT

• Not a watchdog or lobbying group• Not protectionist or exclusionary• Not a new standards organization• Not a strategy for multi-nationals to take

advantage of developing countries

SSAFE leverages recognition of global imperatives and SSAFE leverages recognition of global imperatives and need to support and enhance local conditionsneed to support and enhance local conditions

The SSAFE Imperative on AI

• Foster awareness– Education and risk communication campaigns

• Implement biocontainment – Backyard biosecurity, enhancing poultry

husbandry• Build capacity

– Promote good governance

SSAFE Expert Panels on Avian Influenza

• Focus: Identify and prioritize pilot projects for immediate implementation in Asia

• Initiated at request of UN Coordinator for AI response, Dr. David Nabarro

• Key collaborators:– OIE, WHO, FAO, World Bank – NGOs (CARE, Heifer Project, World Vision,

Wildlife Conservation Society)– Food system and allied industries from farm inputs

and production to food service

Education to Strengthen Bio-Security• Target specific audiences: village communities,

farmers, veterinarians, government staff, food company staff, etc.

• Leverage existing material and personnel

• Harmonize the message

• Risk communication

• Local buy-in and support

Review AI Surveillance Programs

• Determine linkages, overlap & gaps among existing private and public surveillance programs

• Identify opportunities enhance analysis and data access

Create a Workable CompartmentalizationModel

• OIE international standard supporting safe trade of animals & animal products, regardless of country’s disease status

• Pilot in a country where govt. & industry are willing to invest

• Engage trading partners

• Focus on poultry industry

30

“One World One Health”

Human

Domestic Animals

Wildlife &Ecosystem

Animal and human health risks emerge from overlap between domestic animals, wildlife and humans

Meeting Concept

• Animal, human and wildlife health professionals and government officials typically operate in separate silos with limited interaction

• OWOH meetings serve to connect these professionals in a collaborative setting by focusing on issues of common interest

• Designed to develop a shared mindset around the interconnected nature of animal & human health and wildlife conservation fields

• Future meetings to be held in strategic developing countries– 3 to 4 days including breakout sessions and media events– Balanced participation: industry, government, NGOs – public vs. private– Emerge with national “Principles” for guiding future collaboration

Manhattan 2003 Beijing 2005 Brasilia 2007

WCS – GAINSGlobal Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance

• Focused on understanding AI in wild birds• Surveillance in natural habitats & live markets• Early warning system for animal & public health• Web based database on global disease information • Public-Private Collaborative Partnership

– Multiple NGO’s, governments, academia, FAO, OIE, CDC, USDA, USAID, USGS and private industry

– Monetary and in-kind support needed• Potential to leverage additional funding with USAID

Animal Health Capacity BuildingMOZAMBIQUE

TECHNOSERVE

• Nonprofit business organization that provides business- and market- based solutions to poverty in developing countries

• Focuses on developing entrepreneurs, building businesses and industries, and improving the business environment

• Helps people identify and capitalize on good business opportunities that help to transform the lives of the rural poor, by generating jobs and markets for their products and services

• Work with a range of public- and private-sector partners such as: Melinda Gates Foundation, Google.org, Lenovo and Cargill

Mozambique Facts

• ~ 20 M population, 43% <15 years old• ~Twice the size of CA, 5.5% arable land• $1500 GDP/capita with 9.8% growth (2006)• 21% of GDP from Agriculture (formal)• Independence in 1975• Civil War from 1977 to 1992• Republic with 10 Provinces• National budget ~ US$2 Billion w/ half from

donors

A Public-Private Partnership

• Financial Sponsors– SSAFE– Cargill

• Participants– TechnoServe, Mozambique team & DC office– Dr. Kevin Walker, Michigan State University– Dave Harlan, Cargill and University of MN– National Veterinary Services of Mozambique– Provincial Agriculture Ministries (3)

Concept

• Formulating best practices to work with countries in strengthening animal health services is evolutionary.

• While capacity building provides a “global public good”, actions taken in-country must address the needs its citizens and stakeholder groups.

• Raising awareness of the importance of good animal health in developing countries is critical.

• Externally developed plans are often unsustainable.• Raising internal awareness by facilitating public-

private dialogue within developing countries may lead to the development of new sustainable approaches

Phase I Action Plan

• Raise awareness of the importance of a strong VS organization within Mozambique through select meetings with various government officials, VS team and private sector stakeholders.

• Encourage development of a shared vision of the veterinary public health service between the public & private sectors.

• Propose use of self-assessment and benchmarking tools to stimulate dialogue, refine VS vision, develop & implement a strategy and track progress.

• Offer to facilitate initial meetings and to coach Mozambique VS leadership (Phase II).

Phase I - Agenda

• Opening meeting with VS Leadership• Visit farms & Provincial Ag Ministries

– Middle Corridor (Chimoio to Beira)– Northern Corridor (Nampula)– South Capital Region (Maputo)

• Community Vaccinators, Health Ministry, Ag Research Institute, Animal Health Laboratory and private entrepreneurs

• Formulation of opportunities, next steps• Review of observations with Ag Ministry

Phase II

• Development of a sustainable “Community Animal Health” program– Strengthen existing programs (ND, census)– Expand scope to include other basic services – Collaboration with commercial sector– Enabling technologies

• Focus on Nampula Province• Public-Private Leadership team development• Goal to create a success story model for other

provinces and developing countries

Community Vaccination

• Several model programs in Mozambique• Specific to Newcastle Disease vaccination• Limited outreach on other animal health

issues• Some data collection for animal census• Vaccinators are part of local community• Part-time business model, Reality = Volunteer

Observations

• Animal Health Services are highly engaged and seeking assistance/advice

• Within Agriculture, animal health is low priority• Disease surveillance is a major challenge• Socioeconomic value of livestock and poultry

are likely underestimated• Community Animal Health programs were

limited in scope and geography, but appeared to be sustainable with little funding

Opportunities

• Evaluate socioeconomic value of animal agriculture

• Showcase and expand the Community Vaccination program

• Establish an Public-Private Animal Health Leadership Team

• Integrate family sector animal health programs into the commercial sector

• Raise awareness on the importance of healthy animals

1. Entire system Incremental growth

2. National Local

3. Sustainability at local level

• Not just income• Not just technical expertise• Not just business activity

Trying a Different Approach

Partnering on a Common Interest

LAB

PUBLIC HEALTH

CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER

NGO

VACCINATOR

PRODUCER

TECHNOLOGY

Poultry Health

➊ ➋

➌ ➍

➎

“Sousveillance” – a bottom up approach

• An international consortium affiliated with select academic institutions in Asia, Europe, North America and South America

• Leveraged by established relationships with OIE, FAO, WHO and government agencies in partnership with SSAFE

• Focused on leadership programs geared toward experienced professionals from industry and government and for advanced degree students

• Internship opportunities with leading global food system companies

Global Initiative for Food System Leadership

THANK YOU

www.ssafe-food.org

Gary Ades, PhDSecretariat479.696.819

gades@ssafe-food.org