The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has launched a new competitive grants program designed to help researchers and agricultural professionals respond quickly to emerging pest and disease threats that could disrupt the nation’s food and agricultural systems.
The program, titled “Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-Emerging Pest and Disease Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems,” is intended to accelerate the development of science-based solutions that protect agricultural productivity, ecosystem health and food security. The initiative reflects growing concern about the increasing number of biological threats facing U.S. agriculture, including highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry, invasive pests affecting crops, and livestock diseases that can spread rapidly across regions.
“This program empowers researchers and Extension professionals to act quickly, delivering practical solutions that safeguard our agricultural communities and the nation’s food supply,” said Dr. Jaye Hamby, director of NIFA.
The grants are designed to move faster than traditional research funding programs by focusing on threats that have recently appeared. Applications must directly address pests or diseases that have emerged or re-emerged within the past 180 days in animal production systems, plant production systems or within the food supply chain.
Eligible applicants include universities, land-grant institutions, Extension services and other research organizations that support farmers, ranchers and the broader agricultural sector.
Funding can support a wide range of rapid response activities, including surveillance and early detection efforts, development of diagnostic tools, research on pest and disease management strategies and Extension outreach to help producers respond to emerging threats on the ground.
USDA says the program is part of a broader effort to strengthen the nation’s ability to quickly identify and respond to biological risks that could impact food production, agricultural markets and the security of the U.S. food supply.
More information about the grant program and application requirements is available at nifa.usda.gov.
