Strengthening animal health: The role of FAO Reference Centres
FAO designates institutions and universities as FAO Reference Centres in recognition of their expertise and achievements in areas critical to FAO's mandate and member nations' needs. These centres play a crucial role in strengthening the animal health system globally through advanced diagnostics, improving surveillance, ensuring vaccine quality, detecting emerging pathogens, and building laboratory capacity.
A longstanding partnership
FAO's collaboration with Reference Centres dates to 1958, when the Pirbright Institute was designated as the first Reference Laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease. Since then, the partnership has grown significantly. Today, FAO boasts 76 active Reference Centres across 28 disciplines, designated by FAO Director General for five years with potential renewals.
Centres of excellence
The Reference Centres serve as centres of excellence, collaborating with FAO to offer technical advice and build capacity in several areas:
- Standardization: Reference Centres help standardize technologies, methods, transfer of technology and data collection processes.
- Reference materials and quality control: They provide essential reference material, coordinate proficiency testing schemes, and asist in vaccine quality control testing, matching, and validation for FAO procurement for Members.
- Research collaboration: Reference Centres actively participate in collaborative research initiatives.
- Capacity building: Training and workshops are offered to strengthen national laboratory and regional leading labs capacity via training, twinning, and more.
- Coordination: Reference Centres collaborate with other institutions to streamline efforts and avoid duplication.
Benefits of designation
Becoming a FAO Reference Centre comes with several advantages. Centres gain international and regional recognition, access to FAO resources and networks, and opportunities for joint research and training activities. Additionally, they can leverage FAO's expertise to mobilize resources for relevant projects.
Networks of Reference Centres
In some disciplines, FAO has established networks of Reference Centres to enhance collaboration and streamline efforts. Two prominent examples include:
WOAH/FAO Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Reference Laboratory Network: The first laboratories network was established in 2009, and composed of fifteen FAO Reference Centres/WOAH laboratories, and regional support laboratories. The goals of the Network are to understand global FMD virus distribution and patterns to identify threats and make vaccine recommendations, improve the quality of laboratory tests in international and national reference laboratories, and build local capabilities to support regional control programmes. The overarching objective of the network is to contribute to control and eradicate FMD globally.
Network of FAO Reference Centres for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Established in 2019, this network brings together nine Centres across four FAO regions and more institutes soon joining after completion of designation process. This One Health approach is crucial for addressing the complex issue of AMR. The network facilitates joint activities and research, knowledge sharing, and development of best practices for AMR control and alternative measures to antimicrobial in agri-food systems.
The road ahead
FAO is actively working to address the geographical gaps in the Reference Centres, particularly in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Near East. A Global Conference on Animal Health Innovation, Reference Centres, and Vaccines in September 2024 will explore collaborative solutions and foster innovation in animal health.
FAO Reference Centres play a critical role in supporting member countries to strengthen their animal health transformation and laboratory capacities. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building activities, these Centres contribute significantly to improved animal health, food security, and global disease control efforts.
