PNG reaffirms commitment to animal health, biosecurity and one health
Photo Credit: (c) FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright (c) FAO.
PAPUA New Guinea joined representatives from more than 100 countries at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Headquarters in Rome for the launch of the renewed Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD), reaffirming its commitment to stronger animal health systems, biosecurity and resilient agrifood systems.
Held alongside the 30th Session of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG30), the high-level event brought together Ministers, Permanent Representatives, development partners, regional organizations, international institutions and technical experts to strengthen global cooperation in preventing and controlling transboundary animal diseases through the One Health approach.
Representing Papua New Guinea, Dr Nime Kapo, managing director of the Papua New Guinea Biosecurity Authority (PNGBA), delivered remarks on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, John Boito.
"For Papua New Guinea, animal health and one health are not just narrow technical issues; they are foundations for national resilience," Dr Kapo said, noting that disease outbreaks can rapidly erode household food security, incomes, public health and community wellbeing, particularly in remote and rural areas.
Dr Kapo emphasized that Papua New Guinea faces unique challenges, including difficult terrain, dispersed populations, declining livestock production, nutritional gaps, major transboundary animal disease threats and limited veterinary capacity and infrastructure. He stressed that for many rural communities, livestock remain a critical source of food, savings and income.
"When an animal disease reaches a village, it can remove a family's food, savings and source of income in a matter of days," he stated.
Welcoming the launch of the renewed GPP-TAD, Dr Kapo commended FAO and its partners for transforming a shared global concern into a practical platform for collective action to support healthier animals, healthier people and a healthier planet.
He noted that the partnership's focus on prevention, early warning systems, preparedness, disease surveillance, emergency response and sustainable financing aligns closely with Papua New Guinea's national priorities. Particular importance was placed on strengthening "last-mile" delivery through investments in veterinarians, para-veterinarians, community animal health workers, laboratory networks, quarantine systems and emergency preparedness.
Dr Kapo also highlighted Papua New Guinea's growing national commitment to livestock development and biosecurity. He pointed to the Government's allocation of 340 million kina for livestock development under the Medium-Term Development Plan, alongside the Biosecurity Act 2025, which provides a modern legislative framework for risk-based biosecurity governance, and the forthcoming Livestock Industry Development Policy 2026-2035, which will guide long-term sustainable livestock growth.
While reaffirming national ownership, Dr Kapo underscored the importance of international partnerships in addressing diseases that transcend borders.
"Domestic resources alone cannot address threats that are regional and global in nature," he said, calling for stronger collaboration between governments, technical agencies, development partners, international financial institutions and the private sector.
Papua New Guinea pledged to align implementation of the renewed GPP-TAD with national livestock and biosecurity priorities by strengthening surveillance, workforce development, preparedness, information sharing and regional cooperation.
The high-level event also highlighted FAO's role as a "Provider of Last Resort" during major animal health emergencies, ensuring countries have access to timely expertise, coordination support and resource mobilization when outbreaks exceed national response capacities.
Concluding his remarks, Dr Kapo called on countries and partners to shift from commitment to action.
"An outbreak prevented in one village protects a province. An outbreak controlled in one country protects a region. And a resilient animal health system anywhere strengthens health security everywhere," he said.
As part of these global efforts, FAO in Papua New Guinea continues to work closely with the Government of Papua New Guinea, the Biosecurity Authority and national partners to strengthen animal health services, biosecurity measures and disease surveillance systems across the country. These initiatives contribute to safeguarding livestock, protecting rural livelihoods, strengthening food security and supporting more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
Papua New Guinea's participation at COAG30 reinforces the country's growing leadership and commitment to regional and global efforts to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases. Through partnership, innovation and coordinated action, countries can better protect people, animals and the environment while building resilient agrifood systems for future generations.
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