When Mentoring Makes an Impact: Advances in detecting African Swine Fever in Cambodia

Meryl Williams Fellow Vouchsim Kong and her mentor Dr Venn Vutey have joined forces to conduct experimental research into African Swine Fever (ASF) Virus in Cambodia. Together they have advanced the detection of AFS Virus and contributed to regional awareness of this significant biosecurity risk.

The pair met in February 2020 at a week-long mentoring workshop held at the University of New England’s Sydney campus.

Vouchsim Kong is among the first group of Meryl Williams Fellows, a program established by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and delivered by the University of New England (UNE). The Fellowship supports women working in agricultural research in the Indo-Pacific to develop leadership skills that will enable them to increase their impact. We know that greater gender equity in research leads to better research outcomes so by supporting women’s careers in agriculture science, the Meryl Williams Fellowship contributes to food security and poverty reduction for al

A critical component of the Meryl Williams Fellowship is the mentoring support program. Every Fellow is paired with an experienced mentor from her home country to provide support and guidance as they build on skills learned throughout the Fellowship.

Demonstrating just how dynamic a mentoring relationship can be, Vouchsim Kong and Dr Vutey got straight to work. Ms Kong pitched the idea of researching the presence of ASF virus in pork in Cambodian markets to Dr Vutey and by August 2019 research was underway at Dr Vutey’s laboratory (OMRAI).

ASF is a highly contagious virus with high mortality rates in pigs and wild boars. Outbreaks have serious production and economic impacts and pose a significant biosecurity risk. Historically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. More recently the disease has been reported in countries across Africa, Asia and Europe.

Aiming to propose measurable recommendations to prevent ASF outbreaks, the pair expanded the team to include fresh graduates and junior researchers who could assist with sample collection, preparation and analysis and writing. Dr Vutey notes that providing this opportunity to junior researchers meant they were exposed to new methods and were able to be included in the works eventual publication in an international research journal.

The research team concluded that the spread of ASF virus in the wet markets and supermarkets of Phnom Penh is prevalent and that technically influenced policy based implementation of risk assessment is required to minimise production losses. Their recommendations included strict biosecurity guidelines, strict import regulations and heavy penalties for the illegal importation of live pigs.

In February 2020 Ms. Kong delivered the research results in a presentation at the International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development in Cambodia to an audience including participants from Japan, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines, where AFS outbreak is a current food safety concern.

The team now hopes to secure additional funding to continue their research into early detection of the virus. 

Of her experience as a mentee, Ms Kong says:

“I have the privilege of receiving mentoring support from Dr Vutey which has allowed me to extend my research experience. With his encouragement I have been empowered to grow professionally and step into more leadership opportunities. We’ve gained experiences from one another and I have developed better communication skills, confidence and a stronger network”

Applications for the 2021 intake of the Meryl Williams Fellowship opened 1st May 2020 and will close on 31st July 2020.

Applications are open to women working in agriculture, aquaculture and silviculture sciences from the Philippines, Nepal, Myanmar, Mongolia, Timor Leste, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands.

Men and women from those same countries are also able to apply to join the program as a mentor. Please visit www.geared.global/aboutmwf for more information.