FAO develops GPP-TAD Programme to strengthen early warning systems for animal diseases

GLOBAL – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is developing a new global initiative to improve early warning systems, preparedness, and rapid response to transboundary animal diseases, in a move designed to safeguard livestock production and reduce disruptions to global food and feed supply chains.

The Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) is a long-term, country-led platform that will support nations in detecting outbreaks earlier.

This will strengthen veterinary systems and improve coordinated response mechanisms before diseases spread widely across borders.

The programme is being developed in collaboration with international partners, including the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and will focus on linking national investments in animal health with regional and global support systems.

FAO said the initiative is designed to shift countries from reactive outbreak response toward stronger prevention systems that reduce production losses, trade disruptions and economic shocks across livestock sectors.

New system targets earlier detection and faster response

The GPP-TAD framework will focus on strengthening early warning systems, improving surveillance capacity and supporting faster detection of high-impact animal diseases such as African swine fever, avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease.

It will also support countries in building stronger preparedness systems so outbreaks can be contained before they escalate into regional or global disruptions affecting livestock production and trade.

FAO said the programme will help reduce pressure on national systems when outbreaks exceed local capacity, ensuring faster deployment of expertise and coordinated response efforts.

Focus on protecting livestock production and trade stability

Livestock systems support more than one billion livelihoods globally and contribute significantly to agricultural economies, making animal health a key factor in food security and trade stability.

The FAO said stronger prevention systems are increasingly important as disease risks rise due to greater movement of animals and products, environmental pressures and uneven veterinary capacity across regions.

Recent outbreaks, including the re-emergence of New World screwworm in North America and the spread of a new foot-and-mouth disease serotype beyond its traditional range, have highlighted how quickly animal diseases can cross borders and disrupt production systems.

FAO officials stressed that investing in prevention is more cost-effective than responding after outbreaks have spread.

“Investing in animal health systems is one of the most effective ways to protect livelihoods, support trade, strengthen food security and improve resilience across agrifood systems,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General.

The organisation said GPP-TAD will help countries strengthen surveillance networks, improve data sharing and reinforce coordinated response mechanisms, with the aim of reducing the frequency and severity of livestock disease outbreaks.

By improving early detection and response capacity, FAO said the initiative is expected to play a key role in protecting livestock production systems and ensuring more stable global food and feed supply chains.

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