The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) and global animal health company Biogénesis Bagó South Africa have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening South Africa’s response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
Announced on 16 July, the partnership brings together RMIS’s industry network and Biogénesis Bagó’s scientific expertise in animal health to improve disease preparedness, vaccination support, surveillance and producer education.
The initiative forms part of RMIS’s broader efforts to strengthen the red meat industry’s capacity to prevent and manage FMD by improving coordination across the value chain and ensuring producers and veterinarians have access to the technical support and information needed to respond effectively.
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Strengthening the industry’s response
The collaboration will focus on several practical areas designed to improve South Africa’s ability to manage FMD outbreaks. These include supporting vaccination and disease prevention programmes, contributing to epidemiological monitoring and data sharing, developing training and awareness initiatives for farmers and veterinarians, and generating field-based information to improve decision-making.
“Our focus is on helping the industry address FMD as efficiently as possible,” said Dewald Olivier, CEO of RMIS. “By connecting industry stakeholders with technical expertise, we aim to strengthen awareness, preparedness and practical response capabilities across the value chain.”
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Science and collaboration
Biogénesis Bagó is internationally recognised for its expertise in developing vaccines and animal health solutions, particularly for foot-and-mouth disease. The company has played a significant role in FMD prevention programmes in several countries and has the capacity to respond rapidly during animal health emergencies.
Daniel Helou, Regional Director of Biogénesis Bagó, said tackling diseases such as FMD requires close cooperation across the livestock industry. “For Biogénesis Bagó, this collaboration reflects the importance of working across the value chain to address complex animal health challenges through science and cooperation in South Africa,” he said.
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Supporting a resilient livestock sector
For livestock producers, improved vaccination support, better surveillance and greater access to technical information are expected to enhance disease preparedness while building a more resilient red meat industry.
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