The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled a new global blueprint to strengthen the prevention, detection and control of transboundary animal diseases, warning that their rapid spread poses a growing threat to food security, livelihoods, trade and human health.
The Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) was presented at a high level event in Rome on July 24. The country led initiative aims to bring governments, farmers, private companies, financial institutions, foundations and producers together through national partnership platforms.
FAO Director General QU Dongyu said diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and New World screwworm are spreading across borders with increasing economic and livelihood impacts.
FAO has warned that prevention is significantly less costly than responding to major outbreaks. Its assessment indicates that the recent introduction of the SAT1 strain of foot and mouth disease into Asia could result in annual losses of up to $2 billion if the disease is not effectively controlled.
The new programme will adopt a One Health approach, linking animal, human, plant, soil and environmental health rather than treating animal diseases in isolation.
So far, 110 countries have submitted official letters expressing interest in joining GPP-TAD, reflecting growing international support for a coordinated approach to animal disease prevention and preparedness.
The programme will build on more than two decades of work by FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD). Unlike previous initiatives that largely depended on individual donor-funded projects, GPP-TAD will use a diversified financing and governance model.
Under the new framework, countries will lead implementation through national platforms, while regional hubs will coordinate action across borders. FAO will provide technical guidance, disease intelligence, early warning information and emergency support when required.
The programme will focus on five key areas: disease prevention and progressive control, digital surveillance and early warning, preparedness and anticipatory action, rapid emergency response, and stronger legislation, partnerships and financing.
A solidarity based financing system is also planned, under which participating countries will contribute according to their capacity, alongside voluntary contributions from development partners and co-financing from international financial institutions and the private sector.
FAO said the programme is intended to establish a more predictable and sustainable system for managing animal disease risks before outbreaks escalate into major crises.
The initiative comes as countries face growing pressure from rapidly spreading animal diseases that can disrupt livestock production, international trade and food supplies, while some pathogens can also cross from animals into human populations.
Through GPP-TAD, FAO aims to shift global animal health management from a largely crisis driven response towards long term prevention, preparedness and coordinated international action.