USSEC recently participated in a weeklong seminar and training of 35 members of the technical staff from the Office of the Undersecretary of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture / Livestock/ Aquaculture/ Fishery of Ecuador (MAGAP).  USSEC Consultant Belinda Pignotti worked with the Executive Director of the Ecuadorian Swine Producers Association to ensure the participation of a USSEC specialist in swine production and management at the seminar and training of both MAGAP and the Ecuadorian Agriculture Quality Assurance Agency (AGROCALIDAD) staff to train government officials in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) procedures.
The seminar took place at the Facility of Veterinarian Science of the Central University of Quito.  USSEC consultant Carlos Espinosa conducted field visits for practical sessions and also made several presentations including:  “The Importance of Personnel Productivity in Farms;” “Sanitary Aspects to be Managed by Farm Personnel;” and “Biosecurity in Farms.”  Other topics related to the swine sector were presented by other industry professionals and co-sponsored by the industry.
This technical support complements the development of the technical manual for GMPs that will be published by AGROCALIDAD and disseminated by MAGAP representatives among the Ecuadorian swine sector.