APHIS announces funding opportunities for animal disease preparedness and response

USA – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced new funding opportunities to enhance animal disease preparedness and response capabilities. 

Through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP), APHIS is inviting project proposals and allocating significant resources to strengthen the nation’s defences against potential animal disease outbreaks.

Under the NADPRP, APHIS will provide up to US$16.5 million in funds for fiscal year 2025 to support projects that advance animal disease preparedness and response efforts. 

These projects, expected to be awarded in spring 2025, will be carried out in collaboration with various stakeholders, including state agencies, universities, livestock producer organisations, and Tribal entities. 

The program focuses on preventing, detecting, and responding to high-consequence animal diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture.

Proposals for NADPRP funding can be submitted between August 8 and October 18, 2024. APHIS encourages interested parties to visit their website for detailed guidance, including application instructions and priority topics developed through stakeholder consultation.

In addition to NADPRP funding, APHIS offers US$6 million in noncompetitive funding to support the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) in FY 2025. 

NAHLN, a partnership of federal, state, and university-associated animal health laboratories, is critical in detecting and diagnosing foreign and endemic animal diseases. 

The funding will help ensure these laboratories have the necessary resources for early detection and rapid response to disease outbreaks, thereby protecting animal health and the nation’s food supply.

Moreover, APHIS is investing up to US$6 million in the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB) for FY 2025. 

This includes purchasing vaccine antigen concentrates and diagnostic test kits to prepare for potential outbreaks of high-consequence diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). 

Since 1929, the U.S. has successfully kept FMD out of the country, but maintaining a stockpile of vaccines and related products is a critical safeguard to protect the agricultural industry.

APHIS’s continued investments in these programs, supported by over US$172 million allocated since 2019 under the 2018 Farm Bill, reflect a robust strategy to prevent, prepare for, and respond to animal disease threats, ensuring the resilience of U.S. agriculture.

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