Engaging the youth for innovative collaboration in the fight against African swine fever

FAO ECTAD is collaborating with the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office and youth organizations based in the Republic of Korea to develop an application that would help promote biosecurity. The gamification of teaching principles of biosecurity allows the concept to be easily understood and adapted by users. This application aims to raise awareness regarding different biosecurity measures to protect smallholder farms against African swine fever (ASF).
 
Currently on its beta version, the game uses animation with concrete storyline which can be used at the village level to teach farmers and animal health personnel with key message that through the application of different farm biosecurity measures, it will prevent ASF and create more profit for farmers. The game is designed to be simple and can be used in any part of the world with minimum verbal instruction needed.

The game was featured during the World Food Forum in Rome, Italy and became a venue for the students to pre-test the game. It is expected that the game will be formally launched by early 2024.