Transboundary animal diseases pose urgent threat to global food security, FAO warns | FAO News

Rome – The Director-General of the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, on Friday urged Member Countries to reinforce global partnerships to prevent & control transboundary animal diseases (TADs), warning they are one of the most urgent threats to global food security & economic stability.

Speaking at an Information Session on the new Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Qu cautioned that recent funding cuts risk undermining decades of progress in managing & responding to these diseases when global risks are intensifying.

For more than 20 years, the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) has served as FAO’s operational backbone on animal health, supporting more than 50 countries & consistently demonstrating that prevention costs far less than responding to crises.

“We cannot afford to destroy what has taken decades to build,” Qu said. “The cost of prevention is far lower than the cost of inaction.”

A growing global threat

TADs are highly contagious diseases that cross borders rapidly.  As animals & humans live in closer proximity & global movements increase, these diseases are spreading faster – from animal to animal, farm to farm, & country to country.

Recent major outbreaks include African swine fever, which since 2007 has spread to over 50 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, & the Americas; Foot-&-Mouth Disease (FMD), endemic in Africa & the Near East but causing a major outbreak in Europe in 2025; & Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The global farmed animal sector, valued at USD 1.6–3.3 trillion, faces severe risk from TADs. Annual livestock losses range from USD 48–330 billion, with aquaculture experiencing an additional USD 10 billion in yearly disease-related losses.  In endemic regions alone, FMD outbreaks, as an example, lead to an estimated USD 21 billion per year in lost production & vaccination costs.

TADs disrupt food production, food safety, trade, livelihoods, & farmer incomes – erasing years of development gains in days. Outbreaks can devastate smallholders, disrupt trade, strain budgets, fuel antimicrobial resistance, & even spill over to humans.  These risks are amplified by expanding trade, increased animal movements, & the impacts of the climate crisis.

With global demand for livestock & aquaculture products rising, & with livestock underpinning the livelihoods of 1.9 billion people, the stakes are higher than ever.  Aquaculture now provides half of all seafood & freshwater fish. These sectors are vital for nutrition, jobs, & economic opportunity, especially in low- & middle-income countries.

“Now, we must protect those achievements, & scale them up, before the next crisis strikes,” the Director-General said.

FAO’s leadership & the need for new partnerships

Since 2004, FAO & the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have co-led the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs), coordinating efforts to reduce TAD threats to food security, livelihoods, & safe trade.

ECTAD’s global network of over 400 professionals has also provided essential disease intelligence, rapid field response, surge support, & coordination with partners to help countries contain outbreaks at their source —preventing local threats from becoming global emergencies.

During the 44th Session of the FAO Conference earlier this year, Members called for a renewed initiative to safeguard this core work by mobilizing resources, strengthening partnerships, & ensuring sustained long-term support to countries.

In response, FAO has developed a new model to close existing gaps & incorporate Member guidance for stronger, more resilient animal health systems.

A new model for sustainability: the Global Partnership Programme on TADs

FAO’s proposed GPP-TAD introduces a sustainable approach built on shared responsibility, country leadership, & expanded engagement with regional bodies, the private sector, & financial institutions.

The new funding model focuses on four key features: innovative partnerships; an integrated system for coordinated action; country-led mechanisms; & sustainable, long-term impact. This approach aims to reduce outbreaks, disruptions to trade, economic losses, & health risks – while expanding opportunities for growth.

Through a tiered funding model, all countries can contribute meaningfully, ensuring longer-term sustainability & broader participation by Members & partners.

High-income countries can provide base funding to support those with fewer resources, while middle-income countries can offer moderate financial or in-kind contributions, gaining access to advanced surveillance, diagnostics, & co-financing options. Low-income countries including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) contribute primarily in-kind support, backed by solidarity funds & tailored assistance to meet specific needs.

This inclusive structure reflects countries’ diverse capacities while reinforcing global solidarity & collective protection against TADs.

“No country can manage these diseases alone,” Qu said. “This programme is how we protect our livestock, our economies, & our shared future.”

Through the GPP-TAD, FAO will bring together Members, development banks, regional organizations, the private sector, & philanthropic partners in one coordinated effort to reduce risks, strengthen systems & prevent the next crisis.