SADC Ministers to Focus on Food Security, Livestock Disease and Blue Economy at Zimbabwe Summit

Southern African ministers overseeing agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and food security will gather in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on May 29 for regional talks expected to center on climate resilience, food production challenges and efforts to strengthen the blue economy.

The high-level gathering comes as several countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) continue to face pressure from climate variability, livestock disease outbreaks and ongoing concerns over regional food security.

Among the key issues expected to receive attention are recent...

PAHO Signs Agreement to Reserve Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Supply for Latin America & the Caribbean

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today announced a historic agreement with CSL Seqirus aimed at securing a reserved share of pandemic influenza vaccines production for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in the case of a future influenza pandemic.

The agreement establishes a mechanism that reserves a fixed percentage of the company’s global pandemic influenza vaccine output for participating PAHO Member States. Participating countries will have the option to access an initial reserved allocation of vaccines.

“This agreement is a direct response to the...

Development of US-Strain Live & Inactivated Vaccines for Control of Avian Metapneumovirus in Poultry

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a research project that developed both live and inactivated vaccine candidates for avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) subtype B. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program, which encompasses all phases of poultry and egg production and processing, and is made possible in part through proceeds from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo...

Global Virus Network Statement on H5N1 Vaccine Developments

The Global Virus Network (GVN), representing eminent human and animal virologists from more than 90 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in over 40 countries dedicated to advancing research, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness, unequivocally supports and is very encouraged by recent developments in vaccines targeting H5N1 avian influenza, including the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial by Moderna for its mRNA-based H5N1 vaccine candidate (mRNA-1018), with the majority of clinical sites based in the United Kingdom and additional sites in the United States. This effort, supported by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research...

ANALYSIS: Protein Production Outlook for Q3

The USDA is forecasting a mixed outlook for protein production in Q3, with significant declines expected in beef and turkey, while pork and broiler output remain steady or edge higher. Beef production is projected to fall sharply year-over-year (YOY), down 5.4% from 6.78 billion pounds in Q3 2024 to 6.42 billion pounds in Q3 2025. This reflects a tightening cattle supply pipeline, a trend that has persisted throughout much of the year and continues to pressure beef availability.

Turkey output is also forecast to contract, slipping 4.5% YOY to...