The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and leaders from the Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are teaming up on a new project to address challenges related to the deadly African swine fever (ASF) virus. As a top pork exporting nation, an ASF outbreak in the U.S. would cause billions in losses and hinder exports of U.S. pork.
The project, "Capacity building in risk assessment to support safe international trade of U.S. pork products in the Philippines." The Philippines has had ongoing ASF outbreaks and is seeking better ways to control the virus and resulting food price inflation. "NPPC is proud to have worked with the Philippine government, U.S. government, and the University of Minnesota to see this grant proposal to the finish line," Terry Wolters, NPPC president and owner of Stoney Creek Farms in Pipestone, Minn., said in a release. "Creating international partnerships provides further safeguards to keep American agriculture safe from foreign animal disease so U.S. pork producers can continue to provide consumers in both countries with safe and affordable pork products."
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