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Producers and their suppliers - in fact every organization along the Agrifood supply chain - are concerned about the safety and security of their products. Food must be safe, and Food Safety, HACCP and inspection and assurance programs help us ensure that it is.
Biosecurity p rograms are also required to ensure the supply of product throughout the supply chain - most immediately, the biosecurity of the livestock and poultry that provide the meat, dairy and egg products which are so important to our diets and to our economy. Development of biosecurity programs from input suppliers to processing is well underway in Canada, with most major sectors identifying the practices which will ensure the safety of their animals and birds, and some including them in their food safety programs as additional requirements. Of increasing interest and attention are the Farm Services organizations and their personnel; those people who travel from farm to farm, providing essential products and services to keep producers in full and profitable operation. These companies and people are beginning to adopt protocols and procedures which will offer their customers better assurance of resistance to animal disease, and limited impact should an outbreak occur.
What Biosecurity means to us:
eBiz consultants have been fully involved on the front-lines of value chain biosecurity, from the identification of requirements, during simulation exercises, to active involvement in the development of protocols for the service organizations. We have a unique and extensive understanding of what´s required, what works, and what it will take to implement workable programs. From initial work with the poultry industry in Ontario, to design of programs for the livestock industries, and investigation of roadblocks to program elements, we are ready and able to help producers and services groups to establish appropriate protection for their businesses.
Strategy and Gap Analysis:
The preparation of a Biosecurity Gap Analysis is intended to provide needed preparedness and protection for the agricultural sector against both the losses and costs due to endemic production diseases and the potential devastation of an outbreak of foreign animal disease (FAD). The eBiz Gap analysis process does this by addressing the gaps in existing biosecurity and emergency planning in participating sectors by providing an assessment of the disease concerns in the sector. We then identify and assess possible transfer routes for disease among the participating sectors and identify and improve any existing biosecurity or emergency programs already in existence. A new biosecurity or emergency program can be implemented if one does not already exist.
Program Development:
With our extensive knowledge on biosecurity in mainstream agricultural sectors, eBiz can work to develop a program specific to individual or organization needs once a strategy is in place. This involves developing strategies and protocols for disease prevention specific to the agricultural sector in question, or improvement of a system already in place. The program will include disease prevention measures, and a plan of action to be put in motion should a disease outbreak occur.
Implementation:
In order to assist with the implementation of a program, eBiz can advise participants and industry leaders on a realistic and systematic approach in areas such as training and step by step procedures.
Simulations:
 In order to test ability to respond to a serious disease outbreak and ability to respond and recover quickly from the emergency, an industry disease simulation can be conducted. The purpose of a simulation is to educate and prepare industry personnel in the event that a disease outbreak occurs. Simulations that eBiz offers are designed to test the industry’s own protocols and their compliance to them as well as testing their equipment and relationship with suppliers. Lessons resulting from the simulation are used to improve protocol, training and emergency response plans.
Publicly available information on project that eBiz has been involved in is available on agbiosecurity.ca.
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