46 MARCH 2018
THE LAST WORD
FUTURE FOOD =
SENSIBLE SCIENCE
Over the next decade, the global ‘middle class’ will grow from two billion
to nearly five billion. An explosive, unprecedented rise, considering the
entire world population was a mere five billion in 1990. And how will
the average middle-class entrant celebrate their newfound status? By
enjoying a plate of freshly-cooked meat and vegetables with a newly
adopted pet at their feet, says Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross.
Antibiotic
resistance is a
threat that can
cost lives. But
in the battle
to protect our
global health,
people have an
ally in close
quarters that
should not be
underestimated:
the animals at
our sides.
Asia and East Africa could transform the
animal health and crop protection markets
and change the global balance of agriculture.
Working with our international counterparts
allows us to share knowledge with a global
community focused on keeping animals and
crops healthy. Agcarm does this by being
active members of both the international
CropLife networks and the animal health
sector organisation HealthforAnimals. Our
memberships allow New Zealand-based manufacturers
and retailers to foster a greater
understanding of global animal health and
plant protection trends and activities.
To ensure that we continue to produce
healthy food, we need to embrace innovation
and be proactive in dealing with the
barriers. Advocating for sensible science will
not only support a way forward, it will provide
the necessary assurance needed in a world
where the Internet often dilutes the facts.
Agcarm is the industry association for companies
which manufacture and distribute
crop protection and animal health products.
This means they are relying on the
animal health and crop protection
industries. They’re relying on the
animal health sector to help farmers raise
healthy, quality animals in ways that respect
their welfare; and ensure their pets can live
long healthy lives. They’re relying on the
crop protection sector to increase yields of
high quality, nutritious cereals, fruits and
vegetables – all with reducing amounts of
available land.
Animals, grains, fruits and crops will be at
the core of global growth in coming decades.
Companies are investing billions in
R&D each year to ensure we can provide
the tools needed to protect them. But there
are challenges to overcome. There are also
misconceptions that are putting a spoke in
the wheel of innovation.
A major challenge is resistance. Antibiotic resistance
is a threat that can cost lives. But in
the battle to protect our global health, people
have an ally in close quarters that should not
be underestimated: the animals at our sides.
Across animal health, the fight against antibiotic
resistance is concentrated on two fronts:
Better management of existing antibiotics
and the development of alternatives. Modern
technologies like custom, herd-specific
vaccines and animal-only antibiotics are improving
our ability to better preserve existing
medicines.
But, too often, animals are the scapegoat
when it comes to drug resistance. Research
has found that addressing antibiotic resistance
in animals alone does little to tackle
the issue for people. Animal health must be
an equal partner in this fight. Like bacteria
with antibiotics, resistance to crop protection
compounds - such as herbicides, insecticides
and fungicides - can develop over time. This
is a major global challenge for the agricultural
industry.
Fortunately, New Zealand isn’t facing a catastrophe,
but we need to be ahead of the
game. We do this by working with the wider
industry to identify possible threats and ensure
solutions are available for them. Managing
resistance requires an understanding
of the factors that influence its development,
and having strategies in place to manage
these risks.
Increasing regulatory roadblocks for registering
new plant protection products hinder the
progress of providing farmers and growers
with solutions to pests and disease. Decision
making based on political gain, rather
than science, adds to the frustration. These
products are too often subject to the mercy
of activists touting alarmist claims in the
media. Misinformation going viral potentially
inhibits sensible decision-making on the
registration of products that are essential
for the production of safe food.
One hurdle was overcome when the European
Commission and Member States
extended the renewal of glyphosate in late
2017 for a further five years. This is a sensible
decision that allows farmers to safely and
efficiently control weeds in a cost-effective
and environmentally-friendly way.
In emerging markets, navigating complex
regulatory systems can, at times, be an insurmountable
task. Delivering animal medicines
and crop protection products to smaller
markets is becoming increasingly challenging.
Products with proven track records hit an
impasse and progress grinds to a halt.
Increased regulatory convergence offers a
solution. When countries combine the expertise
and knowledge of an entire region,
the result can be a streamlined system that
ensures farmers in fast-growing markets
have the same tools as those from Europe,
America and elsewhere. Implementation of
regulatory convergence in areas like South