UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu on Friday called on member states to strengthen the global partnership for the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases (TAD), warning that transboundary animal diseases are among the most pressing threats to global food security and economic stability.
Speaking at a briefing on the new Global Partnership Program for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Mr Qu warned that recent funding cuts risk undermining decades of progress in managing and responding to these diseases, as global risks intensify.
For more than 20 years, the Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) has served as the backbone of FAO’s animal health operations, supporting more than 50 countries and consistently demonstrating that prevention is far less costly than responding to a crisis.
“We can’t afford to destroy what we’ve spent decades building,” Khoo said. “The cost of prevention is much lower than the cost of doing nothing.”
Growing global threat
TAD is a highly contagious disease that rapidly crosses borders. As animals and humans live closer together and global mobility increases, these diseases are spreading rapidly from animal to animal, farm to farm, and country to country.
Recent major outbreaks include African swine fever, which has spread to more than 50 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas since 2007. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). It is endemic in Africa and the Near East, but will cause an outbreak in Europe in 2025. and highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The global livestock sector is valued at between US$1.6 trillion and US$3.3 trillion and faces serious risks from TAD. Annual livestock losses range from $48 billion to $330 billion, and aquaculture causes an additional $10 billion in annual disease-related losses. As an example, FMD endemic areas alone result in an estimated annual loss of US$21 billion in production and vaccination costs.
TAD disrupts food production, food safety, trade, livelihoods and farmers’ incomes, erasing years of development gains in days. Epidemics can devastate smallholders, disrupt trade, strain budgets, fuel antimicrobial resistance and even spread to humans. These risks are amplified by expanding trade, increased animal movement, and the effects of the climate crisis.
With global demand for livestock and aquaculture products increasing and livestock supporting the livelihoods of 1.9 billion people, the risks have never been higher. Aquaculture currently supplies half of all seafood and freshwater fish. These sectors are essential for nutrition, employment and economic opportunity, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“We must protect and scale up these gains before the next crisis hits,” he said.
FAO leadership and the need for new partnerships
Since 2004, FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) have co-led the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TAD), coordinating efforts to reduce the threat of TAD to food security, livelihoods and safe trade.
ECTAD’s global network of more than 400 experts also provides critical disease intelligence, rapid on-the-ground response, surge support, and partner coordination to help countries contain outbreaks at their source and prevent local threats from becoming global emergencies.
At the 44th FAO Conference earlier this year, Member States called for renewed efforts to safeguard this core work by mobilizing resources, strengthening partnerships and ensuring sustained long-term support for countries.
In response, FAO has developed a new model that fills existing gaps and incorporates Member States’ guidance for stronger and more resilient animal health systems.
New models of sustainability: Global partnership program on TAD
The FAO-proposed GPP-TAD introduces a sustainable approach built on shared responsibility, national leadership, and increased engagement with community organizations, the private sector, and financial institutions.
The new funding model focuses on four key features: An integrated system for coordinated behavior. State-led mechanisms. and sustainable long-term impact. This approach aims to reduce outbreaks, trade disruption, economic losses and health risks, while expanding opportunities for growth.
Through a tiered funding model, all countries can contribute meaningfully, ensuring long-term sustainability and broad participation by member states and partners.
High-income countries can provide base financing to support resource-poor countries, while middle-income countries can provide modest financial or in-kind contributions to gain access to advanced monitoring, diagnostics, and cofinancing options. Low-income countries, including small island developing states (SIDS), least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), contribute primarily in-kind assistance, supported by solidarity funds and assistance tailored to their specific needs.
This comprehensive structure reflects the diverse capabilities of countries, while strengthening global solidarity and collective protection against TAD.
“No country can manage these diseases alone,” Qu said. “This program is a way for us to protect our livestock, our economy and our shared future.”
Through GPP-TAD, FAO will bring together member countries, development banks, regional organizations, the private sector and philanthropic partners in one coordinated effort to reduce risks, strengthen systems and prevent the next crisis.
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