Ecuador has joined a regional campaign that seeks to communicate the risks of African swine fever (ASF) and prevent its arrival in the country. And that through informative material that will be distributed at border crossings, pig farms, producers and associations, which corresponds to the first phase of the campaign.

FAO representative in Ecuador, Eve Crowley, met with authorities from Agrocalidado, an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, to coordinate efforts to communicate the risks of AKS. The authorities emphasized that the disease is not found in the country and does not affect humans, but it is highly contagious and deadly to the pig population.

The consumption of pork moves from second place to beef in the preferences of Ecuadorians

In 2022, Ecuador recorded a production of 206 million kilograms of pork. This figure is divided by 18 million Ecuadorians, resulting in a per capita consumption of 11.44 kg, according to data from the Association of Pig Producers of Ecuador (ASPE).

63% of this pork production comes from factory farms. The sector generates sales of 600 million dollars per year, which represents 8% of the gross domestic product of agriculture (GDP). According to the Association, there are more than 163,000 pork producers in Ecuador, of which 94% are small.

Meanwhile, cases of ASK have been reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which has called on FAO – in collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA) – to engage with authorities, veterinary staff, producers and tourists visiting the country to actively participate in the prevention introduction of this infectious animal disease.

“Although ASK does not pose any risk to human health, its presence affects pig production in the country, as there is no cure or vaccine for this disease to date. That is why we are activating a campaign with most countries in the region to prevent their arrival, and that producers have the tools to identify them, as well as professional support in case they are suspected”, said Eve Crowley from FAO.

“This campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the consequences of the entry of this disease by informing border crossings, as well as pig farmers for the care of livestock; This type of production is becoming more and more important in the country, since it is the economic pillar of thousands of families that depend on it,” said Patricio Almeida, CEO of Agrocalidado.

Ecuador exported pork for the first time and does not rule out being a beef supplier from 2025.

The strategic alliance between FAO and OMSA enabled the creation of informative material for its distribution in a simple, direct way and with a preventive approach. This material will be available in other countries of the region as a continental prevention campaign that unites regional efforts.

FAO delivered the first informational material for the Ecuadorian government to distribute at border crossings, meeting points in the pig farming chain and areas such as shopping centers, farms, transport and slaughterhouses, among others.

In addition to this coordination and implementation of the ASK risk awareness campaign, it is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Agency for International Development (USDA and USAID).