Latest news with #diseaseManagement
The Herald
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald
Agriculture minister says foot and mouth disease outbreak has cost the industry hundreds of millions
He said the spread was largely because of unauthorised movement of livestock and noncompliance at animal auctions. 'I've had to extend the disease management area twice because it has spread, and that's largely through unauthorised movement of animals and some auction events that did not follow the correct procedures,' he said. The minister issued a stern warning to those who flout disease containment protocols, saying criminal and civil consequences will follow. 'There's a criminal charge for it but also I believe those people expose themselves to civil recoveries. Places that have an outbreak as a result of unlawful behaviour would be able to claim damages, which would be quantifiable. A place such as Karan Beef can quantify the damage caused.' Steenhuisen said with advanced tracing technologies authorities are increasingly able to identify sources of outbreaks. He cited a previous incident in Humansdorp as an example of the consequences of ignoring regulations. 'That was on a much smaller scale and caused between R80m and R100m worth of damage to the dairy sector,' he said. When asked how long it would take to bring the outbreak under control, Steenhuisen said the timeline depends on public co-operation. 'It depends whether people adhere to the regulations. What we don't want is more spread or events. If you have people who move animals outside the disease management area or break the protocols, we're going to see breakouts in other parts of the country,' he said. Steenhuisen emphasised the virus only spreads through breaches of movement protocols, not spontaneously. 'The virus can only move out of the disease management area if people break the regulations. It's going to depend entirely on co-operation,' he said. Ramokgopa stressed the need for a uniform biosecurity approach across all farming sectors. 'It's about taking it to the next level to contain any additional spread of foot and mouth disease. What's been very encouraging is co-operation between the Gauteng department of agriculture and national government,' said Ramokgopa. 'We must ensure a uniform biosecurity standard as a country and as a province, regardless of whether you are a small-scale farmer or a large farmer.' To combat the outbreak, the government has allocated R43m to procure vaccines. Steenhuisen confirmed the first shipment comprising more than 900,000 doses arrived in South Africa last week, with vaccinations beginning over the weekend. TimesLIVE
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GLOBAL MANCOZEB SUMMIT: ADDRESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN CROP PROTECTION AHEAD OF EU COURT HEARING
LONDON, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UPL Corporation Ltd. (UPL Corp) - part of UPL Group Company (NSE: UPL) & (BSE: 512070) (LSE: UPL), a global provider of holistic and sustainable agricultural solutions, and The Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science in Agriculture (CERSA) at North Carolina State University, a national and international resource for furthering excellence in regulatory science in agriculture, announced that farmers, researchers, and agriculture experts from around the globe convened at Rothamsted Research in the UK for the Global Mancozeb Summit. This unprecedented event highlighted the vital role of mancozeb, a multi-site fungicide, in integrated disease management strategies. Hosted by CERSA, and supported by UPL Corp, the summit underscored mancozeb's global importance as the European Union's General Court prepares to hear its renewal case on July 1. "Mancozeb is a foundational technology for disease protection in plants," said Mike Frank, CEO of UPL Corp, during his opening remarks at the summit. "It's particularly crucial for growers managing fungal diseases in crops like bananas, soybeans, potatoes, and fruits and vegetables. It provides reliable, multi-site protection, helping prevent resistance build-up and ensuring consistent yields. These conversations are vital for the future of farming and the well-being of our planet." Mancozeb and Its Crucial Role in Disease Management Since mancozeb's revocation in the EU in 2020 and in the UK in 2024, farmers across Europe and beyond have faced increased challenges controlling fungal diseases and resistance to single-site fungicides. Mancozeb's absence has significantly impacted potato, fruit, and vegetable growers who used the cost-effective tool for its multi-site action to protect against disease while managing resistance. "We want to apply fewer pesticides to our crops, and a multi-site tool like mancozeb helps us do this," said Catarina Pereira from Porbatata, the Portuguese Potato Association. "Without mancozeb, farmers are forced to use alternative products that are costlier and require higher volumes." Experts noted severe consequences of mancozeb's absence, particularly regarding the management of diseases like potato blight. Strains resistant to carboxylic acid amide and oxathiapiprolin fungicides caused widespread devastation in regions like the Netherlands, Northern Germany, and Denmark in 2022 and 2023. French farmer and FEDEPOM representative Jean-Paul Deneuville highlighted the fallout, explaining, "Some growers lost whole crops to potato blight in 2024. Without mancozeb, farmers are applying 2–3 times more fungicides, significantly increasing costs." Fruit growers have also felt the impact. "Mancozeb was one of three tools available for apple scab management," said Xavier Le Clanche of the Association Nationale Pommes Poires. "Losing mancozeb has reduced our ability to combat scab and left us with no solution against rust diseases. Growers are now faced with difficult decisions about replanting crops or shifting production entirely in some historical production areas." A Call for Science-Based Decisions The summit gathered perspectives from stakeholders globally, emphasizing the scientific community's consensus regarding mancozeb's safety and efficacy. David Cooke from the James Hutton Institute noted, "The lack of mancozeb in fungicide programs was a contributing factor to the spread of resistant strains. Reintroducing this tool can protect other products and help manage resistance." Delegates at the summit anticipate that the upcoming EU Court hearing will provide an opportunity to reevaluate the 2020 decision. French potato producer representative Oriane Vialle-Guerin explained, "The more you limit the number of approved crop protection solutions, the more pressure you place on those remaining, and this accelerates resistance issues." The Road Ahead Farmers and industry experts at the summit voiced hope for a decision that would prioritize food security and affordability across Europe. Portuguese representatives highlighted the positive impact of mancozeb's reinstatement, not just for crop protection but for cost management, sustainability, and fewer pesticide applications overall. Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the NC Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI) at North Carolina State University expressed optimism about the summit's role in driving meaningful progress. "This dialogue on the science, real-world applications, and a path forward for mancozeb is essential. Giving farmers access to the tools they need isn't just about farming; it's about securing food production and sustainability for future generations." With the EU Court hearing just weeks away, the Global Mancozeb Summit has reinforced the importance of basing regulatory decisions on robust scientific evidence and the real-world challenges that farmers face. NOTES TO EDITORS: SOURCE UPL Corporation Ltd. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and Novartis Middle East sign MoU
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Novartis Middle East FZE (Novartis), an Innovative Medicine's company, to raise awareness, advance prevention, and improve disease management practices, particularly for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The MoU was signed by H.E. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi - Director General, representing ADPHC, and Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Head of GCC, representing Novartis, on May 13, during the 25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, which is taking place from 13 to 16 May, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). H.E. Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi - Director General of ADPHC said: 'This MoU is a vital step in our journey to strengthen public health systems and reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases in Abu Dhabi. We aim to deliver long-term, sustainable health outcomes for our population through strategic collaborations.' Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Head of GCC at Novartis said: 'We are proud to partner with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre in a mission that aligns with our commitment to advancing patient care. Together, we can reimagine medicine to ensure patients get the best care, and we believe we can make a measurable impact on people's lives through awareness, early detection, and proactive disease management.' The strategic collaboration between the two entities highlights a mutual commitment to leveraging public health approaches with private sector innovation to promote healthier lifestyles and enhance community well-being in Abu Dhabi. Under the two-year agreement, ADPHC and Novartis will collaborate to create and execute awareness campaigns via digital and traditional channels, raising the public awareness about risk factors, early symptoms, and the significance of regular screenings for non-communicable diseases. The collaboration is built around three strategic pillars: Disease Awareness: Co-developing impactful campaigns to raise public awareness and educate communities about non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. These initiatives will leverage online and offline channels to encourage proactive health behaviours like routine testing. Disease Prevention: Designing and implementing effective initiatives focused on the primary prevention of adult cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Activities include targeted screening efforts to identify at-risk individuals early. Best Practice Sharing in Disease Management: Collaborating to identify, share, and implement best practices across the patient journey. This includes early screening protocols, preventive strategies, and disease management models, drawing on global expertise amd best practices to enhance patient outcomes and improve healthcare system performance. The MoU also establishes a dedicated taskforce, with each party appointing a lead to coordinate efforts. The task force will meet regularly to align on project plans, assess feasibility, define key deliverables, and evaluate outcomes through jointly agreed key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs will be reviewed biannually to ensure alignment with strategic goals and to adapt to emerging public health needs. About ADPHC: The law No. (14) of 2019 for establishing Abu Dhabi Public Health Center was issued by the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, (may his soul rest in peace) on April 23, 2019. The law aims to issue a public health system. The system aims to preserve the health of the Emirate's population and ensure the safety of its workers by promoting concepts of public health and preventive health. It is concerned with collecting evidence and data on accidents and serious occupational injuries in coordination with the concerned authorities, to determine their causes and reduce their risks, registering all technical service providers and specialists licensed by the department in the fields of public health and preventive health, and ensuring review and approval of the systems of the entities operating in the emirate, in accordance with the requirements of the system. Novartis Middle East FZE Phone: +971 4 8185448 Email:
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi, Novartis Middle East sign deal to enhance public health awareness in emirate
ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Novartis Middle East FZE (Novartis), an Innovative Medicine's company, to raise awareness, advance prevention, and improve disease management practices, particularly for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The MoU was signed by Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi - Director General, representing ADPHC, and Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Head of GCC, representing Novartis, on May 13, during the 25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, which is taking place from 13 to 16 May, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi - Director General of ADPHC said: 'This MoU is a vital step in our journey to strengthen public health systems and reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases in Abu Dhabi. We aim to deliver long-term, sustainable health outcomes for our population through strategic collaborations.' Mohamed Ezz Eldin, Head of GCC at Novartis said: 'We are proud to partner with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre in a mission that aligns with our commitment to advancing patient care. Together, we can reimagine medicine to ensure patients get the best care, and we believe we can make a measurable impact on people's lives through awareness, early detection, and proactive disease management.' The strategic collaboration between the two entities highlights a mutual commitment to leveraging public health approaches with private sector innovation to promote healthier lifestyles and enhance community well-being in Abu Dhabi. Under the two-year agreement, ADPHC and Novartis will collaborate to create and execute awareness campaigns via digital and traditional channels, raising the public awareness about risk factors, early symptoms, and the significance of regular screenings for non-communicable diseases. The collaboration is built around three strategic pillars: -Disease Awareness: Co-developing impactful campaigns to raise public awareness and educate communities about non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. These initiatives will leverage online and offline channels to encourage proactive health behaviours like routine testing. -Disease Prevention: Designing and implementing effective initiatives focused on the primary prevention of adult cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Activities include targeted screening efforts to identify at-risk individuals early. -Best Practice Sharing in Disease Management: Collaborating to identify, share, and implement best practices across the patient journey. This includes early screening protocols, preventive strategies, and disease management models, drawing on global expertise amd best practices to enhance patient outcomes and improve healthcare system performance. The MoU also establishes a dedicated taskforce, with each party appointing a lead to coordinate efforts. The task force will meet regularly to align on project plans, assess feasibility, define key deliverables, and evaluate outcomes through jointly agreed key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs will be reviewed biannually to ensure alignment with strategic goals and to adapt to emerging public health needs.
