FMD Symposium 2026: A Landmark Event for Knowledge, Collaboration and Biosecurity
The 2026 FMD Symposium brought together the livestock industry for a memorable day of education, engagement, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Training & Information
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Symposium 2026
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) SYMPOSIUM Octavoscene (Pty) Ltd is proud to host a landmark symposium focused on the global and local landscape of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). We are bringing the world’s leading FMD authorities to South Africa for a rare, one-day intensive session. This event is a must-attend for veterinary professionals, livestock industry stakeholders, and biosecurity researchers. Featuring Distinguished Guest Speakers & Moderator: Dr. Donald King: Head of FAO World Reference Lab, Pirbright Institute, UK. Dr. Jonathan Arzt: Lead Scientist for FMD research, USDA Plum Island Animal Disease Center, USA. Dr. Michael Eschbaumer: Head of FMD Laboratory, Institute of Diagnostic Virology; Topic: The German Surveillance system and how they managed FMD. Dr. Chris Ashworth: Directs research and technical nutrition team worldwide, Zinpro USA. Prof. Armanda Bastos: Distinguished molecular biologist, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Moderator of the day: Dr. Gideon Bruckner, ARC, South Africa. Other Speakers to Be Included: Dr. Dirk Verwoerd Dr. Carla van der Merwe Dr. Anna-Marie Behrens Mrr. Wian Sülllwald Dr. David Gerber Detail Information Date 31 July 2026 City Pretoria, South Africa Venue Heartfelt Arena, 1000 Voortrekker Street Availability Limited Seating Available How to RSVP Due to the high-profile nature of our guest speakers and limited venue capacity, we encourage early registration. To secure your seat, please contact Jurené Botha: Email: orders@octavoscene.co.za
Sernick Information Day
Sernick, together with Bonsmara SA, invites producers to an informative industry session focused on Foot-and-Mouth Disease and the road ahead for the livestock sector.Entry is free, and producers of all breeds are welcome to attend.The event will feature expert speakers from the veterinary, agricultural, and industry sectors, followed by a panel discussion addressing the challenges and future of livestock health management in South Africa.
