Jul 31, 2015
Jul 30, 2015
Aquatic Animal Disease Workshop in Mauritius
The training is meant for the officers of the Competent Authority – Seafood and the aquatic division of the Albion Fisheries and Research Centre as well as for operators in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The course is being dispensed by Dr Laurent Pasco, Veterinary Officer and Head of the Board Inspection Post in Vannes (France).
Participants will gain knowledge in aquatic animal diseases specific to Mauritius and how to curb the risk of proliferation of aquatic animal diseases to species endemic in Mauritius. They will also acquire enhanced knowledge and skills in verifying whether shellfish, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals meant for export are fit for human consumption. After the training, they will be able to establish a food safety management plan that will ensure compliance to the requirements of importing countries. Moreover, the training will contribute in equipping officers with the necessary skills to enable them to effect appropriate verification and control within the national and international Regulatory Frameworks. In so doing, Mauritius can have access to several other markets while consolidating our presence in traditional markets.
The training comes at an opportune time, says Minister The Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands, M. Premdut Koonjoo, was present for the opening. In his address, he highlighted that the training has come at an opportune time since the Ministry is working on the expansion of the aquaculture sector in Mauritius. He recalled that the vision of the Government is to make the ocean economy an important industry to sustain economic diversification, job creation and wealth generation. In this respect, the fisheries and aquaculture industry will play an important role in developing the ocean economy, he said. The training programme, the Minister said, will contribute in developing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in a sustainable manner and allow operators in fish and fish products sector to develop their business free from diseases.
Jul 28, 2015
Jul 27, 2015
Some Snapshots of Industrial Chicken Production in Mauritius
Jul 25, 2015
Mauritius endorses the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Compact
GIS – 24 July 2015: The signature ceremony of the Mauritius Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact, intended to assist the Government in defining and accelerating implementation of its agricultural development agenda, was held yesterday at Westin Turtle Bay Resort and Spa, Balaclava.
CAADP WEBSITE Mauritius, July 23 2015 – Mauritius has become the 15th member country in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to sign its national Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact.
“CAADP responds to the aspirations of Africa by placing agriculture as the engine of social and economic growth,” said Mr. Mahen Kumar Seerutun, Mauritian Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security.
Speaking on behalf of the NEPAD Agency and the African Union Commission, Dr. Janet Edeme, Head of Rural Economy and Agriculture Division, expressed gratitude to Mauritius for building consensus among partners on necessary solutions to meet the challenges in agricultural development. Dr. Edeme also remarked that it is important that Africa commit its own resources towards the continent’s development.
The signing of a CAADP Compact symbolises a commitment to investment in consensually agreed key priority areas, and an overall vision for agricultural transformation. According to CAADP principles, these agricultural priorities are arrived at through an inclusive national roundtable process. The priorities are by nature, results-based and reflect the views of all stakeholders in the country’s agriculture sector.
The signing ceremony of the CAADP Compact was led by the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mahen Kumar Seerutun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Etienne Sinatambou and COMESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Programmes, Dr. Kipyego Cheluget.
“Africa boasts huge resources and economic potential, and therefore the role of both public and private sector in agriculture cannot be overemphasized,” Dr. Cheluget said. He added, “The Mauritius CAADP Compact will give impetus to other countries that have not already done so to sign their compacts and implement their National Agriculture Investment plan.“
The national CAADP Compact was also signed by representatives of the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency, Small Farmers Welfare Fund, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Ministry of Ocean Economy, the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Etienne Sinatambou stressed that the CAADP process is in line with the Mauritian development priorities, with particular emphasis on biotechnology.
Although continental in scope, the CAADP agenda is an integral part of national efforts to promote agricultural sector growth and economic transformation. In the case of Mauritius, the focus of the CAADP process is to strengthen and add value to the strategy for agricultural transformation under the ongoing Economic Development Strategy of the country as outlined in the Government Programme (2015-19).
The ultimate goal of the CAADP process in Mauritius is to answer that call for the agricultural sector, by:
(i) Helping define a coherent long term framework to guide the planning and implementation of agricultural programmes; and
(ii) Identifying strategic options and sources of economic empowerment and inclusive growth for the agricultural sector, and
The CAADP Compact in Mauritius sets the parameters for long-term partnership in the agricultural sector. It also specifies key commitments on the part of government and development partners. Furthermore, the Compact clarifies expectations with respect to the agribusiness and farming communities in order to ensure successful implementation of the Government Programme 2015-2019.
Therefore the goals of CAADP are very much in harmony with Mauritius’ goals of creating a modern and sustainable agricultural sector that will contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction in the country.
The Prison Farm
Jul 23, 2015
International Symposium on Food Safety 16 July 2015
International Symposium on Food Safety
The SELAMAT coordinators for organising the workshop were Dr Hans Marvin and Mr Piet Stouten, RKILT, Netherlands. And the local organising committee consisted of staff of the Faculty and was chaired by the local SELAMAT coordinator, Assoc. Prof. D.Goburdhun.
The Faculty of Agriculture
The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius has celebrated its centenary in 2014 and has always been proactive and strived to align its programmes of studies with the emerging needs of the Agricultural and Food sector in Mauritius. As early as 1997, the Faculty launched its full fledged undergraduate programmme in Food Science; thereafter B.Sc (Hons) in Food Science and Technology with different specializations such as Food Safety, Seafood Technology, B.Sc (Hons) in Food Safety and Quality, MSc Food Science, MSc Food Technology and PhD in Food Science programmes have been regularly offered. Several research projects pertaining to value addition, food safety, food and health and product development have been carried out by academic staff and students. The Faculty has also organized workshops in the area of Food Science and Technology such as Risk Analysis in food safety.
The SELAMAT consortium
The SELAMAT (Safety enhancement of Edible products, Legislation, Analysis and Management) consortium is a unique partnership of science-based organisations or other organisations established in Asia and the EU, and aims at working together in the area of food safety on activities of mutual benefit. The main partners are the Netherlands, Portugal, Malaysia, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, China, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, Nigeria, South Africa. The University of Mauritius(Faculty of Agriculture) has been accepted as a member of the SELAMAT food safety consortium in 2014.
The Symposium
The symposium held on the 16th July 2015 brought together food safety experts to share the latest developments in the area. There were 19 international delegates from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Republic of China, Russia, Nigeria and South Africa and 113 local participants including the public and private sectors, academia, consumer organisation and independent consultants. It was also a good opportunity for participants and delegates to network and discuss with their peers n their topics of interest in food safety. The SELAMAT also held their annual meeting on the 17th July 2015 at Le Meridien Hotel, Mauritius.
AU-IBAR Workshop on Genetic Resources - VET-GOV programme steering committee
AFRICAN UNION INTERAFRICAN BUREAU FOR ANIMAL RESOURCES (AU-IBAR)
Le 6eme Veterinary-government Steering committee se rencontre à Maurice pour un échange d‘information et d’expérience entre les membres de l'ÁUIBAR, l'African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources. Ils sont quelque 25 représentants des pays africains a Maurice pour faire des réflexions sur l’importance de l’élevage dans la survie de l’humanité. Des centaines de projets pilotes lances ou L’élevage s’avère crucial dans la lutte contre la pauvreté. A conditions que les gouvernements africains y accordent le budget nécessaire selon le coordinateur de l’AU IBAR- lÁfrican Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources. Lors du Lancement, le ministre Mahen Seeruttun a souligné l’importance d'encourager de jeunes entrepreneurs dans ce secteur et Maurice depend encore trop de l’importation. Parmi les autres sujets qui seront abordés pendant ces 2 jours, le financement,les subsides et la formation des leaders dans le secteur de l’elevage pour la région. Source (MBCTV,
GIS – 23 July 2015: The 6th steering committee meeting of the “Reinforcing veterinary governance in Africa” also known as the VET-GOV programme is being held from 22-24 July 2015 at Sofitel Hotel, Flic-en-Flac. The meeting is organised at the initiative of the African Union- Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) to implement the VET-GOV project whose objective is to improve the contribution of livestock to food security, safety, economic growth and wealth creation in Africa.
Jul 22, 2015
Livestock Policy and Action Plan 2015-2020
GIS – 21 July 2015: Moving towards a smart livestock sector is the aim of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security. In this context, a validation workshop for stakeholders on the Livestock Policy and Action Plan 2015-2020 is being held today at Voila Hotel, Bagatelle.
According to the Minister, the livestock sector, especially the production of meat and milk, constitutes an important economic pillar for the State. But this sector had for too long been neglected, he said, adding that it must know a drastic change, move from an archaic system towards the professionalisation of its activities to achieve its true potential whether in dairy or meat production, namely that of beef, sheep, pigs, goats and chicken.
Jul 21, 2015
International Scientific Conference - Climate Change 2015
7-10 July 2015. Paris, France. This four-day Scientific Conference “Our Common Future under Climate Change” was the largest forum for the scientific community to come together ahead of the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP21), which will be hosted by France in December 2015 (“Paris Climat 2015”). This PAEPARD blogpost focused on the contributions / presentations from Africa and can be accessed here.
Dr B. Lalljee presented a paper at the conference.
Jul 20, 2015
HAAGRIM - First Mobility Cohort Debriefing Session
At the end of their 6 months placement at the Faculty, Mr Amos Chacha (Kenya) and Ms Junie Brodelle (Cameroon) presented the outcomes of their HAAGRIM mobility at the University of Mauritius. The meeting was attended by academic staff and was followed by a get together with the administrative staff to bid farewell to them. In their presentation both students highlighted their appreciation of the modules they have followed in Agribusiness and their 2 months work placement. They expounded on skills gained in project management and writing business plans. And lastly but not least they have enjoyed their interaction with local students.
Some snapshots of their last day at the Faculty are shown below.
Jul 17, 2015
We need to cultivate young farmers
Tertiary education Strategic plan
Jul 8, 2015
Rapport d'activite Qualireg
Ce rapport synthétise l'ensemble des activités et des actions qui ont été menées pendant le projet (2012-2015).
Vous y retrouverez les faits marquants du réseau en termes de partenariat, de formation, d’animation scientifique et de recherche scientifique.
A lire Les faits marquants du réseau de 2012 à 2015.
Jul 6, 2015
Organizations Raising Awareness of Antibiotic Resistance
The routine use of antibiotics on livestock leads to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria that can impact humans. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in 2010, almost 52 percent of chicken breasts tested were contaminated with antibiotic resistant E. coli. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that 80 percent of all antibiotics are fed to farm animals that aren’t sick, in order to promote rapid growth.
The overuse of antibiotics results in high costs to consumers who become sick from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excess healthcare costs in the U.S. from antibiotic resistance are estimated at US $20 billion annually. People spent an additional 8 million days in the hospital due to these infections in 2011. Other societal costs, such as lost wages from extra days spent in the hospital and premature deaths, were estimated at US$35 billion in 2011.
In the U.S., at least 2 million people become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year, according to the CDC. And 23,000 people die every year as a direct result of those infections, with many more dying from complications. Because of these exorbitant costs and serious public health risks, there is a national movement to end the use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics in agricultural production.
What do we do when antibiotics don’t work any more?
Penicillin changed everything. Infections that had previously killed were suddenly quickly curable. Yet as Maryn McKenna shares in this sobering talk, we've squandered the advantages afforded us by that and later antibiotics. Drug-resistant bacteria mean we're entering a post-antibiotic world — and it won't be pretty. There are, however, things we can do ... if we start right now.Antiobiotic resistance is becoming a real concerm. Listen to this talk