Animal Medicines to Play Vital Role in Food Security
GLOBAL - The projected worldwide growth in human demand for protein must be met by developments in animal medicine, a conference heard yesterday.Science has a vital role to play in this, and the industry respects the need for
appropriate regulation that protects human health and animal health and welfare,
at the same time as allowing technological advance. Growing public confidence in
scientific advancement is an important part of this.
The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) held its fourth Food Chain
conference, Feeding the World, at the Royal Society on Tuesday, 15 February 2011.
NOAH Chief Executive Phil Sketchley said: "The NOAH event this year has been
about Feeding the World and we have looked at how those of us in the animal
health industry can help meet the challenge of increasing demand for protein-
based food, both in the developed countries and emerging nations of the world.
"We have been fortunate to have a selection of highly qualified speakers who
have addressed various aspects of how science can be used to safeguard food
supplies, improve human and animal health and contribute to protecting the
environment."
NOAH heard from Professor Andy Peters, MD of Arpexas Ltd and visiting professor
at the University of Nottingham, about how existing and new animal medicines and
advances in science can be used to help meet these challenges.
Among the speakers was Dr Gabriel Oluga Aboge of the Central Veterinary
Laboratory, Kabete, Kenya, who spoke about Africa's need for a technological
revolution in animal science to feed a growing population and strengthen
economies that relied heavily on pastoral farming.
Other speakers included Neil Parish MP (Former MEP and ex-Chairman of the
European Agriculture and Rural Development Committee) and Professor David Leaver
of the Royal Agricultural College.
George Gunn, Chief Executive of Novartis Consumer Health, spoke about the
requirements of the animal health industry in terms of free innovation and
allowing advances in medicines to reach markets in a sensible regulatory
framework. The Chairman was former dean of Cambridge Veterinary School, Lord
Soulsby of Swaffham Prior.