By Maile Matsimela

The second article in our series from the National Biosecurity Summit held at the University of Pretoria on 10 June focuses on the critical role of research and diagnostic capacity in South Africa’s biosecurity ecosystem. Panel discussions revealed both significant challenges and promising opportunities in this domain, highlighting the need for strategic investment and collaboration to strengthen the country’s ability to detect, respond to and mitigate biosecurity threats.

South Africa possesses considerable research talent and infrastructure, yet the panel identified several systemic challenges that hamper effectiveness in the biosecurity domain.

Dr Litha Magingxa, CEO and President of Agricultural Research Council (ARC), highlighted that “research efforts are often fragmented across multiple institutions, leading to duplication and inefficient use of limited resources.” This fragmentation results from competitive rather than collaborative funding models, institutional silos between universities, government research bodies, and private sector research and development, and the lack of a coherent national research agenda for biosecurity.

Richard Krige, Chairperson of Grain SA, emphasised the funding challenges: “While industry contributes significantly to research funding, the scale of biosecurity challenges requires greater government investment and coordination.”

The panel noted several funding-related issues, including a decline in public funding for agricultural research over recent decades, short-term project-based funding that hampers long-term research programs, uneven funding across agricultural sectors with smaller industries receiving limited support, and a disconnect between research funding priorities and practical biosecurity needs.

Prof. Vinny Naidoo, Dean: Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria, provided critical insights into the challenges facing veterinary training and research: “We face significant inefficiencies in our current systems for training veterinarians. Funding limitations constrain our research capacity, and biosecurity risks often limit student access to farms for practical training”. He highlighted the brain drain affecting veterinary services: “We provide excellent academic training for veterinarians but then lose many to opportunities abroad. We need to create compelling reasons for them to stay and contribute to South Africa’s biosecurity system.”

Prof. Naidoo proposed innovative solutions, including that “Young veterinary graduates should be involved in biosecurity initiatives, vaccine strategies and commercial farm operations”. This, he argues, creates value for their work while addressing critical gaps in our national capacity.

Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO: Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa, highlighted that “specialised plant pathologists are in short supply, yet they’re essential for diagnosing and managing plant diseases.”

Several panellists emphasised the need for more epidemiologists who can analyse disease patterns and inform control strategies.

David Niemann, COO of Sernick Group, addressed the research-practice gap from an industry perspective: “Often research doesn’t translate into practical solutions that farmers can implement. We need research that addresses real-world challenges and delivers actionable recommendations”. He also emphasised the importance of diagnostic capacity: “From an industry perspective, quick and reliable diagnostics are essential. When disease outbreaks occur, every day of delay in diagnosis and response costs the industry millions.”

Effective biosecurity systems rely heavily on robust diagnostic capacity to detect threats early and respond appropriately. The discussion revealed a mixed picture regarding diagnostic infrastructure. South Africa has several world-class diagnostic facilities, particularly in major urban centres and within certain industries like citrus. However, rural areas face significant gaps in accessible diagnostic services.

A promising development highlighted was the expansion of mobile diagnostic capabilities. “The ARC has been developing mobile diagnostic labs that can be deployed to outbreak areas,” explained Dr Magingxa. “These mobile units bring sophisticated diagnostic capabilities directly to farmers, allowing for rapid response.” The panel agreed that such innovations are essential for serving smallholder farmers in remote areas, enabling rapid response to disease outbreaks, reducing the time between sampling and diagnosis, and building trust with farming communities through visible service delivery.

Several speakers highlighted the role of emerging technologies in enhancing diagnostic capacity. Simple diagnostic tools that can be used in the field by non-specialists are becoming more available. Increasingly affordable genomic sequencing tools allow for rapid pathogen identification and characterisation. Digital platforms connect field observations with diagnostic laboratories and create early warning networks. Artificial intelligence tools help identify patterns and predict outbreaks based on multiple data sources.

Several speakers highlighted how climate change is altering pest and disease dynamics, with shifting ranges of vectors and pathogens, changing seasonal patterns affecting disease cycles, and increased stress on plants and animals making them more susceptible to disease.

Dr Maneshree Jugmohan-Naidu, Chairperson of the National Biosecurity Hub Steering Committee emphasised that “traditional knowledge about pest management and animal health has been underutilised in our biosecurity systems.” Research should document and validate indigenous knowledge, integrate traditional approaches with modern scientific methods, and develop context-appropriate solutions based on local knowledge.

The interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health was also addressed as a critical research area, with focus needed on understanding zoonotic disease transmission, developing integrated surveillance systems, and creating cross-sectoral response mechanisms.

Based on the panel discussion, several key recommendations emerged for strengthening South Africa’s research and diagnostic capacity. “We need a coherent national strategy that aligns all stakeholders around common research priorities,” suggested Dr Magingxa. This strategy should define clear research priorities based on risk assessment, allocate resources according to strategic importance, coordinate efforts across institutions to avoid duplication, and balance basic and applied research needs.

The panel proposed several approaches to funding. Matched funding programs where government matches industry contributions could maximise available resources. Industry-wide levies dedicated to biosecurity research provide sustainable funding streams. Regional pooling, combining resources across Southern African countries for common challenges, offers efficiency. Public-private partnerships with co-funded initiatives addressing specific biosecurity threats were also recommended.

The panel advocated for a networked approach to diagnostics with a tiered system of local, regional, and national laboratories. Standardised protocols and quality assurance would ensure consistency. Digital platforms connecting field observations with laboratory services could speed response times. Community-based surveillance systems involving farmers would expand coverage.