Assessing feasibility: Considerations for developing countries
Transcript of Assessing feasibility: Considerations for developing countries
Considerations fordeveloping countries
Assessing feasibility
Food and AgricultureOrganization of theUnited Nations
Perceptions: new technology
• Recalling Dr Nadon’sPresentation…
Look beyond such perceptions• Consider the potential value of WGS:• Concrete advantages and disadvantages of
implementing WGS at national level• Collaboration is key with multi-disciplinary structures of all stakeholders, including:• Academia/research sector• Private sector• Consumer groups and others
Now you know…• Possible benefits and potential drawbacks of WGS in
food safety management• Real-life case studies where WGS is applied for
regulatory decisions• Next steps:• Disseminate the knowledge to national colleagues• Advocacy and awareness raising for political leaders• Ask the key question:
“Can WGS work in my country to manage food safety issues?”
Feasibility assessment• If your country has limited
capacity and resources, consider conducting feasibility assessment jointly with potential national partners and stakeholders• Such feasibility assessment
includes:1. Priority assessment2. Prerequisite activities and
infrastructure assessment3. Preliminary readiness assessment
1. Priority assessment• First, assess the level of priority for
food safety• Key questions:• Is food safety a high priority in your
country?• What are the impact of food safety on
national health and industry/trade/economy?
• It may be useful to prepare relevant data/evidence to discuss such priorities in sensitizing policy makers
Once a priority is confirmed• Consider if WGS is likely to be useful for
priority pathogens in the country• For example:
• If Cholera is the highest local priority, simple detection may be a higher priority than high-level strain characterization.
• A step-by-step approach might be more appropriate, implementing a conventional detecting system for pathogens while national food control systems are strengthened• After all identified priorities are addressed,
WGS can be considered for the next step
2. Prerequisite activities and infrastructure assessment• If the priority of food safety is confirmed as high and WGS seems to
be one of the options, assess the prerequisites and infrastructure• Assessment elements:
• Political will from national leader(s)• National food safety policy• Functional national food control system• Functional national health surveillance system• Clinical reporting system and relevant database• Functional national food monitoring/inspection system• Epidemiological data repository/database• Good laboratory practice• Sustainable supply of equipment• Consistent source of electorical power• Reliable internet connection to support data transfer• Pool of qualified individuals to perform/interpret WGS
2. Prerequisite activities and infrastructure assessment• If the priority of food safety is confirmed as high and WGS seems to
be one of the options, assess the prerequisites and infrastructure• Assessment elements:
• National food safety policy• Functional and integrated national
food control system• Functional national health
surveillance system• Clinical reporting system and
relevant database• Functional national food
monitoring/inspection system• Epidemiological data
repository/database• Good laboratory practice• Sustainable supply of equipment• Consistent source of electorical
power• Reliable internet connection to
support data transfer• Pool of qualified individuals to
perform/interpret WGS• Political will of policy makers
3. Preliminary readiness assessment• Once priority, prerequisites and
infrastructures are assessed, identify key steps by assessing the readiness in implementing WGS at national level• Key elements:
• Appropriate mechanism/setting for WGS activities• Appropriate placement of WGS activities
and capacity• Mechanisms for information
dissemination at both national and international levels
What if we are not ready?• If a country does not have appropriate capacity or
infrastructure:• Consider if WGS activities can be accomplished through
collaboration with other countries, databases, entities, international organizations or international networks and consortiums.• Consider partnering with several existing
international/regional networks and consortiums and entities, in addition to the United Nations technical agencies such as FAO and WHO.
Results of the feasibility assessment• Developing countries may benefit from communicating the results of the feasibility assessment with international organizations in order to:• Address gaps• Request assistance in capcity development• Develop a tailor-made programme in eventually adopting
WGS for food safety through a step-by-step approach• Benefit from globally shared data
Your country situation?• Consider in the context of your country – is it feasible to
implement WGS for food safety management?• Is a global assistance in conducing feasibility assessment
potentially useful in your country?
• Introducing the panelists:• Mr Bashiru Boi Kikimoto (Veterinary Services Directorate, Ghana)• Ms Sharmila Buldewo (Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food
Security, Mauritius)• Ms Fengqin Li (National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment,
China)