14 November 2024, Pakistan: CABI is leading a new project in partnership aimed at promoting greater sustainable practices to enhance Pakistan’s agricultural trade including safer-to-use and more environmentally friendly biopesticides to fight devastating crop pests and diseases.
Together with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the partnership will increase livelihoods and food security by enhancing trade with more stringent Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures are rules, measures and regulation designed to protect human, animal and plant life and health, from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or disease-causing organisms. Essentially, they ensure food is safe for consumption.
Launch event for the project in Islamabad
Senior scientists from CABI’s centre in Pakistan attended a launch event for the project in Islamabad along with representatives from PARC, USDA, USAID, the Environmental Protection Agency – Ministry of Climate Change (EPA – MOCC), and the Department of Plant Protection – Ministry of National Food and Security and Research (DPP – MNFS&R).
Others in attendance included Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Livestock, CropLife Pakistan (CLP), Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA), private industry and academia.
Dr Babar Bajwa, Senior Regional Director, Asia, said contaminated feed poses risks to animal and human health and CABI, along with its partners is working to strengthen feed safety regulations, promote bio-pesticides, and harmonize standards to support livestock health and productivity.
Dr Bajwa said, “The overarching goal of the project, entitled ‘Trade and SPS Regulatory Harmonization in Pakistan,’ is to assist Pakistan in adopting a biopesticide registration process and capacity building across the country’s livestock feed sector.
“The work includes engagement of provincial livestock and dairy development departments and associated industry and will build upon the biopesticide registration process, recently approved by the government of Pakistan, which is seen as a major step towards the promotion of safer plant protection products.”
Importance of collaborative working
Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman of PARC and who chaired the launch event, emphasized the importance of collaborative working and said that while the country has numerous policies in place, it is crucial that they are implemented in “true spirit.”
He said in Pakistan’s crop and livestock sectors, intensive research and continuous funding support is crucial for capacity building among stakeholders. Meanwhile, Mr Saqib Ateel, Secretary Livestock, Punjab, highlighted the contribution of livestock to Pakistan’s economy and the special focus that the sector needs to be accorded.
Dr Tariq Khan, Plant Protection Advisor and Director General of Department of Plant Protection gave a brief orientation on biopesticides registration in Pakistan. He asserted that as we move forward, the insights and learnings from our previous engagement will play an important role in shaping the future of biopesticide regulation in Pakistan.
The collaboration between DPP, CABI, USDA & USAID sets a strong foundation for ongoing efforts to enhance the regulatory framework and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Furthermore, Christopher Rittgers, Agricultural Counsellor at USDA-FAS, recognized collaboration with CABI and PARC and hoped that the current initiative will continue to improve livestock efficacy and enhance profitability for farmers.
Similar views were shared by Ian Winborne, Deputy Director Climate and Sustainable Growth at USAID, who expressed pride within the US government for the work that CABI, PARC and partners are carrying out in Pakistan.
CABI has collaborated on over 150 projects
Since 1957, CABI has collaborated on over 150 projects to address agricultural and environmental challenges in Pakistan. Since 2018, for example, CABI in collaboration with PARC, USDA and USAID, had led on the projects ‘Aflatoxin control in Pakistan’ and ‘Regulatory harmonization in Pakistan on MRLs and biopesticides.’
These initiatives have focused on developing biopesticides registration framework in Pakistan.
In 2019, CABI initiated formal discussions with DPP, in collaboration with experts from USDA and PARC. CABI also convened workshops for the regulatory authorities to enhance their understanding of biopesticides regulation development in Pakistan.
In July 2020, CABI formally submitted the biopesticides registration guidance document to the DPP for its incorporation into the legal system. The submission was followed by various consultations with stakeholders and a due review process.
Furthermore, in 2022, CABI conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment across the livestock feed sector, identifying priority topics through consultations with stakeholders in production, manufacturing, distribution, and regulation.
Support engagement with key stakeholders
It is expected that this initiative will also support engagement with key stakeholders—policymakers, feed processors, and farmers, through a capacity-building program aimed at improving livestock nutrition and feed practices.
This cooperation seeks to enhance protein production per unit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
During Rapid Needs Assessment on livestock feed sector, the livestock feed regulatory system was found fragmented. Most regulations are focused on livestock diseases and breeding while neglecting feed sector said by an expert on the livestock feed regulatory affairs.
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