USDA Announces Awards to Support One Health Initiatives

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Contact:
Travis Weger
970-416-4699
Travis.Weger@usda.gov
 

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is awarding 36 research awards totaling more than $56 million to support One Health surveillance and coordination.

One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach – working at the local, regional, national, and global levels – with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes. It recognizes the interconnection between animals, people, plants and their shared environment.

This announcement includes eight USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) projects, one National Science Foundation (NSF) Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program project and 27 projects identified through the USDA APHIS SARS-CoV-2 in animals general and tribal funding opportunities.

A complete list of awarded projects can be viewed at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/onehealth/one-health-projects. These awards will help APHIS accomplish its goal of building an early warning system to potentially prevent or limit the next zoonotic disease outbreak.

“APHIS has long relied on collaboration with our state, Tribal, federal, and private partners to help protect our nation’s agricultural and natural resources,” said APHIS Acting Administrator Dr. Michael Watson. “We are excited about the opportunity these new partnerships give us to build critical One Health coordination and capacity while furthering the science on SARS-CoV-2. This important work will strengthen our foundation to protect humans and animals for years to come.”

The One Health concept recognizes that the health of people, animals and the environment are linked. For decades, APHIS has taken a One Health approach in its efforts to eradicate and control diseases in livestock and wildlife. For example, when working to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle or reduce rabies in wildlife, we account for the interplay of humans, animals, and the natural world they share. APHIS is currently conducting multiple projects related to One Health, including those aimed at understanding how the SARS-CoV-2 virus behaves in different animals, how it moves between animals and people, and what we can do to interrupt the chain of transmission. We will use what we learn to help us prevent or reduce the impact of future zoonotic disease outbreaks.

 

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APHIS protects the health of U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases, regulates genetically engineered crops, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and helps people and wildlife coexist. We also certify the health of U.S. agricultural exports and resolve phytosanitary and sanitary issues to open, expand, and maintain markets for U.S plant and animal products.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.