The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched the Integrated Biosecurity Index (IBI), which measures biosecurity level in plant and animal health, food safety and the environment in an integrated manner.
The IBI is a ground-breaking instrument that encompasses all facets of biosecurity. It features a hierarchical structure with six principles, 25 criteria, and a staggering 128 sub-indicators, providing a holistic and in-depth assessment.
ADAFSA and FAO collaborated closely to develop the Index. A three-day joint workshop brought together specialists from various biosecurity, animal health, plant health, and food safety entities. The workshop focused on risk assessment and building effective management plans.
This initiative aims to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing in biosecurity. It paves the way for broader adoption of the IBI by the FAO and its global implementation. The IBI is expected to revolutionize biosecurity assessment worldwide, contributing to enhanced food security, environmental protection, and human and animal health.
Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, stated that the development of the IBI is a significant global achievement that adds to the UAE’s accomplishments under the UAE’s leadership.
Opening the joint workshop with FAO, Al Muhairi said that the IBI is a strategic tool to address the growing challenges to global food security. She noted that the development of the Index responds to an urgent national and global need in the face of increasing risks to food value chains, globalization, and climate change.
For his part, Dr. Markos Tibbo, Senior Livestock Development Officer at the FAO Subregional Office, hailed the collaboration as a model for international cooperation to enhance biosecurity and praised ADAFSA’s efforts, describing the IBI as a “landmark achievement” with significant global implications for improving biosecurity.
Dr. Tibbo stressed the IBI’s importance as a valuable tool for the effective assessment and management of biosecurity risks. He highlighted that the Index, as the first of its kind in the world, represents a remarkable advance in biosecurity assessment.
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