The Regional International Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) member countries marked the Agropecuary Health Day on October 29, recognizing the efforts of those working to prevent pests and diseases affecting agricultural production.
This day was established in 1953 during OIRSA's forty-eighth International Committee meeting. The date aims to highlight the importance of regional cooperation that began when Mesoamerican and Caribbean countries joined forces to protect agropecuary health.
According to the release, the commemoration seeks to "strengthen awareness about the role of agropecuary health in producing safe food, fair trade, and environmental sustainability."
Guatemala has been a strategic partner with OIRSA since 1953. This partnership is supported by joint work with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), specifically through its Vice Ministry of Agropecuary Health and Regulations (VISAR).
Over 72 years, this collaboration has helped prevent, control, and eradicate diseases or pests such as foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, brucellosis, Central American locusts, and fruit flies.
OIRSA currently provides technical, operational, and financial support to VISAR programs including PRONASPORC for classical swine fever control; PROSA for strengthening national poultry health; PROSABO addressing bovine diseases; PROSAPI for beekeeping protection; PRONASA focused on aquaculture biosecurity; and the National Screwworm Program aimed at containing and eradicating this pest.
These initiatives address technical needs while supporting food sovereignty, public health, and agricultural competitiveness under a “One Health” approach that links human, animal, and environmental health.
Additionally, OIRSA supports laboratory diagnostics improvements and traceability systems that help ensure sanitary quality in livestock products and enhance transparency in international trade.
In response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Guatemala benefits from OIRSA’s support as a founding member of the National AMR Surveillance Network to protect both human and animal health.
The partnership also includes technical training and innovation. Recent activities have included courses on pesticide evaluation and registration, drone use in precision agriculture, prevention of Fusarium Tropical Race 4 in bananas, as well as a regional course on fruit flies.
Furthermore, eleven quarantine treatment stations operate at airports, ports, and borders. The organization also manages the Agricultural Protection Service (SEPA) under MAGA’s delegation.
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