NM Agriculture secretary explains economic impact of New World screwworm – KRWG Public Media

Report on the Economic and Ecological Impact of the New World Screwworm Beef Embargo

Introduction: A Challenge to Sustainable Development

A months-long embargo on beef imports from Mexico, necessitated by the re-emergence of the New World screwworm, presents significant challenges to economic stability and food security in the United States, particularly in New Mexico. This situation directly impacts the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Economic Disruption and Food Supply Chain Vulnerability

Impact on Regional Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The embargo has caused extensive economic disruption, directly undermining efforts toward sustained economic growth as outlined in SDG 8. New Mexico, which hosts the two primary ports of entry for livestock from Mexico, is at the epicenter of this impact.

• Santa Teresa Port: As the largest cattle crossing in the United States, its operational halt has created a significant economic void.
• Economic Loss: The disruption affects not only New Mexico but also other states reliant on these imports, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The total economic impact is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, affecting feedlot operations and the broader livestock industry.

Threats to Food Security and Sustainable Production (SDG 2 & SDG 12)

The interruption in the cattle supply chain poses a direct threat to food security and highlights vulnerabilities in production systems, key concerns of SDG 2 and SDG 12.

1. Reduced Cattle Supply: Approximately 17% of cattle on feed in the United States originate from Mexico. The embargo significantly reduces this supply, compounding existing shortages caused by drought.
2. Consumer Impact: The reduced availability of cattle contributes to increased beef prices for consumers, potentially affecting access to affordable food.
3. Supply Chain Instability: The situation underscores the need for resilient and sustainable food production and supply chains that can withstand biological and environmental shocks.

Collaborative Eradication and Surveillance Efforts

International Partnerships for a Common Goal (SDG 17)

Addressing the screwworm threat requires robust international and domestic cooperation, reflecting the principles of SDG 17. A multi-faceted strategy is being implemented to control and eradicate the pest.

• Sterile Insect Technique: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is re-establishing a facility in Texas to breed and release sterile screwworm flies, a proven method of biological control. A similar facility is also being supported in Mexico to address the issue at its source.
• Cross-Border Surveillance: A coordinated surveillance program is underway, involving the USDA and border states (New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California), to monitor for any potential spread of the fly. This partnership is crucial for early detection and rapid response.

Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems and Public Health (SDG 15)

The New World screwworm poses a threat beyond livestock, impacting wildlife, domestic pets, and humans, thereby touching upon the goals of SDG 15 (Life on Land).

1. Ecological Threat: Unlike other fly larvae that consume dead tissue, the New World screwworm infests the live flesh of warm-blooded animals, making it a danger to livestock, wildlife such as deer, and domestic pets.
2. Public Health Alert: Public health officials are raising awareness among veterinarians, pet owners, and hunters to monitor animals for signs of infestation. Vigilance and sample testing are critical components of the containment strategy to protect both animal and human health.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the New World screwworm and its impact on beef imports touches upon several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core issue revolves around the food supply chain, specifically beef production and availability. The embargo directly impacts the number of cattle available for the U.S. market, which has implications for food security and prices.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The New World screwworm is a significant threat to both animal and human health. The article explicitly mentions its danger to livestock, pets, wildlife, and humans, highlighting the public health dimension of the crisis.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The moratorium on beef imports has a substantial economic impact. The article details the financial losses affecting not just New Mexico, which hosts major livestock ports of entry, but the broader U.S. livestock industry, including feedlot operations.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The screwworm affects not only domesticated animals but also wildlife. The article calls on hunters to be vigilant, indicating that wild animal populations, such as deer, are at risk, which connects the issue to the health of terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The response to the screwworm outbreak involves collaboration across multiple levels of government and international borders. The article describes joint efforts between the USDA, U.S. border states (New Mexico, Texas, etc.), and Mexico to control the pest.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
  1. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article connects the import embargo to a reduction in beef supply (“17% of the cattle we have in the United States on feed come from Mexico”) and subsequent price increases (“You’re going to feel it at the grocery store a bit”), which directly relates to food access and affordability.
  2. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices… The screwworm outbreak represents a threat to the resilience of the livestock industry. The efforts to eradicate the fly and establish surveillance are measures to protect and ensure the stability of this food production system.
• Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
  1. Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of… neglected tropical diseases and… other communicable diseases. The New World screwworm infestation is a parasitic disease that affects both animals and humans (a zoonotic threat). The eradication program described, using sterile flies, is a direct effort to end this disease threat in the region.
  2. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The article describes the development of an “active surveillance program” in border states and public awareness campaigns for veterinarians, pet owners, and hunters. These actions are explicit examples of strengthening capacity for early warning and risk management.
• Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
  1. Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances… The article highlights the negative economic impact of the embargo, stating it is “quite extensive” and amounts to “several probably hundred millions of dollars.” This disruption directly hinders economic activity and growth in the agricultural sector.
• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  1. Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land… ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species. The New World screwworm is an invasive pest that threatens livestock and wildlife (“if you’ve got an animal and you see some of these… on the deer”). The sterile fly program is a specific measure aimed at controlling and eradicating this priority species to protect both agricultural systems and natural ecosystems.
• Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
  1. Target 17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries… The article mentions that the USDA has “invested in a facility in Mexico to basically produce those sterile flies on the front lines,” which is a clear example of international partnership and capacity-building to address a shared problem at its source.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Economic Indicators:
  • Volume of livestock trade: The article states that “over around 2 million head of capital” were crossing at Santa Teresa, providing a baseline to measure the impact of the embargo and the recovery of trade.
  • Economic value of trade disruption: The estimate of “several probably hundred millions of dollars in economic impact” serves as an indicator of the economic cost that needs to be mitigated.
  • Dependency on imported livestock: The figure that “about 17% of the cattle we have in the United States on feed come from Mexico” is a specific indicator of supply chain structure.
• Health and Disease Control Indicators:
  • Number of screwworm cases: The article mentions “a case in the U.S. of a traveler” and that submitted samples have been “negative.” Tracking the number of confirmed cases in humans, livestock, and wildlife is a direct indicator of the program’s success.
  • Scale of eradication efforts: The plan to “deploy hundreds of millions of flies a week into Mexico” is a quantifiable indicator of the intervention’s intensity and scale.
  • Surveillance program implementation: The establishment and operation of the “active surveillance program” in border states is a qualitative indicator of improved early warning capacity.
• Food Supply Indicators:
  • Consumer food prices: The statement “You’re going to feel it at the grocery store a bit” implies that beef prices are an indicator of the supply disruption’s impact on consumers.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: krwg.org