Focusing on the case of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in southern Africa – and specifically Botswana, Nambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe – this research is exploring the economic, social and political trade-offs arising from disease control strategies geared towards promoting commercial beef exports and achieving a ‘livestock revolution’.
It explores whether, given limited resources and capacities and the growing costs of meeting export standards, it makes sense to persist with the economically and politically fragile status quo and ensure disease freedom. Or are there other alternatives that benefit a wider group of producers, are easier to implement yet maintain access to important export markets and so foreign exchange revenues?
