BRISBANE, Australia – The staff of the Pig Health-EcoHealth project visited the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia recently for a planning and review meeting.
Implemented by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and coordinated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), the project is on its last year.
The seven team members from the Philippines during the two-week visit in Australia included Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Project Coordinator and PCAARRD Acting Deputy Executive Director for R&D; Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz, Jr., Project Leader and Department of Agriculture Region 3-Integrated Laboratory Division Chief; and project officers Mr. Ronilo O. De Castro of PCAARRD; Dr. Augusto S. Baluyut of the Pampanga Provincial Veterinary Office; Dr. Milagros R. Mananggit of the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Region (RADDL-Region 3); Dr. Lilia M. Retes of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI); and Mrs. Corazon S. Ignacio of PVO-Pampanga.
The team met with the Australian team’s researchers and ACIAR officials to talk about the adoption and impact assessment study that will be implemented before the completion of the project.
During the project team meeting, ACIAR Research Program Manager for Livestock Dr. Werner Stur emphasized the importance of preparation for the project-end review and identification of the impact of the previously completed Phase I respiratory project and the ongoing Ecohealth project.
Dr. Stur also mentioned in his message the long-term partnership of ACIAR and PCAARRD in project co-investments, M&E activities, and capacity building programs.
Meanwhile, UQ team project leader Dr. Patrick Blackall reiterated the importance of monitoring the outputs and impact after the conclusion of the project.
The rest of the team members shared their updates on their respective tasks and studies done for the project such as the laboratory activities, research on pig diseases, field activities, and extension plans. The meeting determined how much of the objectives were already met by the team.
Among other activities, the team also had hands-on training on bacterial isolation and sero-typing of Salmonella and E. Coli in a laboratory at UQ. They also visited a family owned poultry farm raising free range chickens in Toowoomba, Australia as well as the university swine research facility in UQ Gatton campus, where the team observed the process of raising pigs under Australian condition.