Global Food Summit Highlights Vital Role of Vet Labs in Combating Animal Diseases

Addis Ababa, July 29,2025 (ENA) -- A key sideline event at the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa emphasized the critical role of veterinary diagnostic laboratories in protecting global food security from Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs).

Experts stressed that empowering these labs through networks like VETLAB is essential for rapid outbreak response.

The high-level panel, "Empowering Laboratories to Combat Transboundary Animal Diseases and to Ensure Food Security: Role of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Network (VETLAB Network)," showcased significant support from the Joint FAO/IAEA Center to veterinary laboratories, especially in Africa.

Panelists, including Dr. Charles Bodjo of AU-PANVAC and Dr. Takele Abayneh of Ethiopia's National Veterinary Institute, demonstrated how the VETLAB Network has dramatically improved national laboratories ability to diagnose and control animal diseases swiftly.

Examples included Ethiopia and Botswana's advancements in accredited diagnostic tests and molecular tools, and Côte d'Ivoire's effective cross-border surveillance.

The panelists showcased how the VETLAB Network has dramatically improved the capacity of national laboratories to accurately diagnose and control animal diseases, allowing for swifter responses to outbreaks.

They shared concrete examples, such as Ethiopia's and Botswana's advancements in accredited diagnostic tests and molecular tools, Tunisia's progress in genome sequencing, and Côte d'Ivoire's effective cross-border surveillance initiatives.

 

The discussion reinforced the consensus that robust veterinary diagnostic laboratories are indispensable for the early detection and effective response to TADs, which are essential for maintaining healthy livestock populations.

Dr. Charles Bodjo noted, "Our work is also to harmonize vaccine quality control across the continent. So, we use the VetLab network to disseminate testing on vaccines quality control."

"We should continue to support the VetLab network and to create a strong synergy between... vaccines and also between diagnostic. So, these are the two tools which are very important for disease control.", he added.

Viskam Wijewardana, Head of the Animal Production and Health Laboratory at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Joint FAO/IAEA Center, highlighted the network's broader impact.

Dr. Takele Abayneh shared Ethiopia's experience, stating, "These two laboratories benefited a lot in capacity building, particularly in molecular diagnostic techniques."

He also pointed out, "Even these labs have the capacity to diagnose COVID-19. During COVID pandemic, all the medical labs were not able to cover the testing services."