Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to Strengthen Animal Disease Surveillance Through Digital Technology

Today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), opened the EMA-i+ Training of Trainers Workshop, aimed at strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s capacity for timely and effective animal disease surveillance and reporting.

The workshop, being held from September 8-11, 2026, forms part of FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP.TRI.4101), through which the EMA-i+ system is being configured and established for Trinidad and Tobago. EMA-i+ is a smartphone application developed by FAO to facilitate real-time, georeferenced reporting of animal disease events by field personnel. Information captured through the application is transmitted to the EMPRES-i+ national platform, where it is securely stored and made accessible to authorised Government personnel for monitoring, visualisation and epidemiological analysis.

Delivering opening remarks, Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, emphasised that strong animal health surveillance is critical to protecting farmers, safeguarding food security and building a resilient agricultural sector. Minister Ratiram stated “Preparedness is something that must be built before a crisis occurs. We cannot always prevent an animal disease from emerging or entering our country, but we can strengthen our ability to detect potential threats, understand what is happening and respond appropriately.”

Ms. Michelle Anne Thomas, Permanent Secretary, MAF, noted that the initiative goes beyond introducing a digital application, strengthening the way animal health information is captured, communicated and translated into decisions. “The objective, therefore, is not simply to collect more information. It is to ensure that the right information reaches the right people at the right time, in a form that supports timely and evidence-based action.”

FAO also highlighted the importance of the partnership in advancing digital innovation within Trinidad and Tobago’s agri-food system. Dr Gillian Smith, FAO Representative (Ad Interim) for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, noted that EMA-i+ can strengthen the link between information gathered in the field and the Ministry’s decision making processes, particularly during animal health emergencies.

“By leveraging digital technology, the Ministry can enhance its reach and effectiveness, significantly expanding its capacity beyond current approaches,” Dr Smith said.

The training will bring together approximately 30 personnel involved in surveillance, data collection and reporting of domestic and wild animal diseases. This includes 28 officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and two officers from the veterinary services of the Tobago House of Assembly. The participants will be trained in the use of EMA-i+ and will subsequently train other expected users across Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will continue to strengthen national animal health systems through capacity building, technological innovation and strategic partnerships to support earlier disease detection, faster response and better-informed decision-making in protecting Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural sector.

 

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