Organizer: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand - FCCT

Description:

While Thailand and the rest of the world were preoccupied with the spread of COVID-19, a far deadlier virus had crossed the country’s borders. The African Swine Fever Virus (ASF) is highly contagious, with mortality rates consistently exceeding 90%, and presents one of the toughest challenges to the global pig industry. Worryingly, no vaccine has been successfully developed, even as Asia enters the fourth year of an outbreak that has decimated livestock populations. Although the virus fortunately does not affect humans directly, its impact on farmers and consumers provides a glimpse into a world with decreasing levels of food security.

Although warnings that the ASF virus had crossed into Thailand were sounded as early as 2019, it was only in January that the government finally announced that it was dealing with an ASF outbreak. With the livelihoods of hundreds of small farmers ruined and rising pork prices exacerbating an urgent cost of living crisis in a politically sensitive year, the FCCT is pleased to welcome a panel of journalists and experts to discuss their part in breaking this story and its implications for Thailand.

Speakers:

Rungnapa Pimmasri, senior reporter, Thairath Plus.

Kritsana Paitoon, news chief of regional economics section, Prachachat Business.

Nattavut Ratanavanichrojn, vice dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University.

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