Future directions for ACIAR's animal health research

Abstract

To meet the escalating demand for animal protein in the Asia–Pacific region, ACIAR's challenge is to underpin the sustainability of increased livestock and fisheries production for poor farmers and consumers. This can be progressed through research that helps the animal food sector of developing countries. Smallholder producers require cost-effective production technologies, appropriate infrastructure and policies, and better market access. Poor consumers require lower-priced products that are higher in quality and with minimal food safety risks. For more than 20 years, animal health has been a significant program in ACIAR's research portfolio. Much has been achieved both in capacity enhancement in partner countries and Australia, and in the improvement of productivity. The importance of animal health management to achieving economic, environmental and biosecurity outcomes is increasing in the Asia–Pacific region. ACIAR is proactively addressing developments by continuously monitoring and reviewing our priorities to meet new challenges. The centre is also developing suites of coordinated projects with clusters around common themes. In line with this management emphasis, our evaluation and impact assessment program is selectively undertaking thematic evaluations and reviews. In late 2005, the Animal Health Review was undertaken by external consultants. The review comprised: • a broad (meta type) analysis of a range of animal health projects • a more detailed cluster analysis of two of ACIAR's important animal health project areas - Newcastle disease and internal ruminant parasites, with two case studies on transboundary diseases • a review of the changing environment • the development of a framework to assist in developing and evaluating future animal health research program clusters and projects. In the light of this important review, the ACIAR Board reflected on the strategic directions of the program. It has now concluded that the direction of ACIAR's Animal Health program should, in summary, be as follows: 1 - a primary focus on Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos, with a secondary emphasis on underpinning biosecurity cooperation in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste 2 - concentration on transboundary diseases, and those diseases affecting human health and trade 3 - underpinning efforts by international agencies working in the Asia–Pacific on animal health matters. Further details are set out at section 1 of this publication. No policy is ever rigid, but the directions set out in section 1 should help the ongoing dialogue between ACIAR and its partners in this important area. The full review report is set out in section 3, including 24 specific recommendations. ACIAR's responses to these recommendations, in the form of a Management Action Plan for Animal Health Research, are given in section 2. The action plan is designed to respond positively to the review recommendations and recognises the imperative for changes to this research field to align with current and prospective regional and Australian strategic and operational priorities. In particular, the need for future programs to be more focused, more integrated with overall development efforts, and sufficiently flexible to respond and contribute to the immediate and emerging needs of partner countries is recognised.