Estonian minister requests additional govt funding to combat African swine fever

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras is to submit a request to the government for additional funding to help contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in Estonia and mitigate its economic impact.

The funds would come from the government's reserve and be directed toward three critical areas -- compensating losses, strengthening biosecurity measures, and preserving wild boar meat for humanitarian aid to Ukraine -- a move aimed at both limiting the spread of the virus and offsetting the damage already done.

This summer, nearly 12,000 farm pigs have been culled due to ASF, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers and putting the future of their operations at risk.

To prevent further spread of the virus, it is essential to improve biosecurity both on pig farms and in hunting, where the wild boar population remains a key risk factor.

According to Terras' proposal, canned wild boar meat would be sent to Ukraine as humanitarian aid, a measure that serves two purposes -- reducing Estonia's wild boar population and providing practical support to the country suffering under war.

In addition to the funding request, the ministry is also working to optimize internal resources to reinforce biosecurity.

"We have already begun analyzing our budget to identify savings and redirect funds to support our efforts in halting the spread and strengthening prevention," Terras said.

Terras emphasized that pork remains a key staple in the Estonian diet.

"Outbreaks in large farms are particularly serious and threaten the long-term viability of the entire sector as well as national food security more broadly. This situation demands immediate and coordinated action," he added.

The minister stressed that the crisis is not just the concern of one ministry or sector but a nationwide issue requiring close cooperation and collective effort from all government agencies.

He has convened a meeting for Wednesday with sector representatives and relevant authorities to discuss the best possible solutions.