Agricultural & Food Biosecurity Overview
One of our nation’s premier concerns
since September 11, 2001, is biosecurity. This concern not
only includes defending the nation from direct attacks to
people, but also from attacks that attempt to disrupt America’s
ability to feed itself and the world. A single plant or animal
disease outbreak not brought quickly into check could drastically
affect our ability to keep our animals and plants healthy.
Furthermore, an outbreak even on a very limited scale could
undermine consumer confidence in the food supply if it is
mishandled. CSREES and its land-grant university partners
play a major role in helping to monitor and prevent such
outbreaks.
CSREES is working with its partner institutions
to continue research on understanding disease transmission
and early detection; accurate and speedy diagnosis of plant
and animal diseases by laboratories; and extension efforts
that provide producers with information on disease prevention
and control, as well as keeping consumers properly informed
in the event of a perceived or actual national crisis.
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