Safeguarding Our Agriculture and Food Supply
On National Agriculture Day, S&T recognizes the importance of agriculture to our communities and our national security.
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On National Agriculture Day, S&T recognizes the importance of agriculture to our communities and our national security.
DHS S&T’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center Science Program’s disinfection and decontamination projects are a key component in responding to the threat of transboundary animal diseases (TADs). The goals of the disinfection and decontamination efforts are to prevent the introduction of TADs to North America, and provide tools to end users—first responders, veterinarians, the agriculture industry, decision-makers—to detect, mitigate, and decontaminate threats posed by TADs.
DHS S&T’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center Science Program’s Food, Agriculture, and Veterinary Defense (FAV-D) project coordinates research and development initiatives based on DHS component requirements. The primary goal of the FAV-D project is to prevent, protect, mitigate, and respond to the intentional or natural introduction of high-consequence transboundary animal diseases affecting food and agriculture.
Classical swine fever (CSF) is a trade-restricting, contagious, viral disease affecting domestic and wild swine, which was eradicated from the U.S. in 1978. While it is not a threat to human health, a CSF outbreak would significantly affect our economy, disrupting agriculture markets and pork exports. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center is one of the few facilities within the U.S. that is permitted to utilize live CSF virus as part of its scientific activities.
DHS S&T’s PIADC Science Program specializes in conducting pivotal scientific studies in direct support of transitioning transboundary animal disease (TAD) vaccine candidates. Vaccine development projects conducted by the DHS PIADC Science Program are essential for protecting U.S. food and agriculture and are a vital tool in addressing the threat of TADs.
DHS S&T's Plum Island Animal Disease Center Science Program conducts critical scientific studies that support the development of diagnostic tests for transboundary animal diseases. From fiscal year 2018–present, DHS S&T has invested more than $2.5M to test and evaluate diagnostic devices for transboundary animal diseases.
DHS S&T's PIADC Science Program, established in 2005, executes a broad portfolio of projects related to the prevention, protection, and mitigation of transboundary animal disease. The goal of the DHS PIADC Science Program is to prevent the introduction of—and provide tools to counter threats posed by—transboundary animal diseases to North America.
DHS has completed the construction and commissioning of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas.
On National Agriculture Day, we’re spotlighting how S&T is protecting the nation against current and emerging threats.
S&T’s Food & Agriculture Defense Matrix Team conducts research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) on technologies, techniques, procedures, and capabilities necessary to protect U.S. food and agriculture from agricultural pests and crop diseases; transboundary animal diseases; intentional or unintentional occurrences of food contamination or adulteration; natural, accidental, or intentional biothreats which may present harm to animals or plants; and other high-consequence events that pose a risk to homeland security.