In June 2024, RDAR hosted a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Forum, bringing together over 100 stakeholders in a unified call to action. The event fostered dialogue and collaboration to address the ongoing challenges of CWD in Alberta and Canada.
Participants included producers, researchers, wildlife organizations, Indigenous communities, government officials, hunters, and conservationists. The forum highlighted current knowledge and gaps regarding CWD and facilitated small group discussions to review the 2011 National CWD Control Strategy and explore future actions.
With the continued spread of CWD into new jurisdictions, stakeholders identified the urgent need for a new National CWD Control Strategy in Canada, guided by a One-Health approach.
Key recommendations arising from the forum included:
Establishing Leadership
Securing Political Support
Ensuring Sustained Funding
Prioritizing Consultation and Collaboration
Enhancing Information Sharing
Coordinate Research Efforts
RDAR has responded to the challenge and remains dedicated to supporting producers through a One Health approach, recently investing $3.3 million in a One-Health Solutions initiative. This includes a consortium effort led by Dr. Sabine Gilch (University of Calgary) to advance the development of CWD vaccines and live testing methods for the farmed cervid industry.
Moving forward, effective progress will demand urgent action, collaborative leadership and an adaptive management approach across jurisdictions, government departments, and communities. Policies must be grounded in both scientific research and traditional knowledge, aligning with a new national strategy to maximize Canada’s ability to combat CWD. This will be a long and costly challenge, and maintaining status quo is not an option. Nevertheless, there is significantly more to be done in this area, much more. RDAR has stepped up to the challenge and will continue to drive solutions to protect Alberta Producers.