Biosecurity boost for Timor-Leste

22 May 2023

Agriculture Victoria scientists are working with our close neighbour, Timor-Leste, to boost local animal health and help safeguard Australia from exotic animal diseases.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has funded Agriculture Victoria $3.5 million over five years to extend biosecurity training to scientists, technicians and farmers in Timor-Leste, building on work undertaken over the past three years.

The project, which initially focussed on diagnosing and managing African Swine Fever, has been extended to look at a range of diseases including classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and lumpy skin disease, and will include testing of all livestock species.

Agriculture Victoria Research Leader Grant Rawlin said the biosecurity and emergency animal disease work supported by Agriculture Victoria has enabled Timor-Leste to diagnose and control disease outbreaks which may have otherwise cost the agriculture industry up to an estimated $90 million.

“Agriculture Victoria is proud to have supported Timor-Leste’s ability to successfully diagnose and control several animal disease outbreaks within 48 hours.

“The timely diagnosis and control of animal disease outbreaks means less livestock are impacted, the disease doesn’t spread as far, and farmers can quickly resume their operations”, Dr Rawlin said.

Dr Rawlin was on-the-ground during the 2019 African Swine Fever outbreak in Timor-Leste and recently spent a month leading a team training local veterinarians on how to use a range of diagnostic tools, including a real-time method for detecting different microbial agents in animal samples, and a highly specific, low cost, fast and portable test for pathogenic viruses.

“The collaboration has bolstered the local agriculture industry’s response efforts and deepened our relationship with Timor-Leste. It also gave our experts invaluable insight into on-the-ground emergency animal disease management and control.”

Caitlin Wilson, Chargé d’Affaires at the Australian Embassy Dili said the initiative demonstrated Australia’s deep and enduring commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s food security and economic priorities.

“Maintaining a healthy, productive and profitable livestock industry not only contributes to jobs and economic development for Timor-Leste, but also helps meet domestic demand for nutritious protein,

“Australia is proud to be working with our Timor-Leste partners to strengthen their biosecurity systems as part of regional efforts to combat exotic animal pests and diseases such as African Swine Fever, foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.”

The program also includes sponsorship of Timorese veterinarians and researchers to visit Agriculture Victoria research sites in Australia to undertake research alongside our staff and expand their knowledge. Vets and scientists are visiting AgriBio over the next few months.

The Australian Government investment of $3.5 million was launched at the Timor-Leste Veterinary Medicine Association conference in Dili in March.

Dignitaries and delegates from seven nations gathered to celebrate the program's success to date and look forward to making further advancements in protecting agriculture from biosecurity threats.

For more information about our research visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Media contact: Tess Vallance

Phone: 0437 223 276