The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, urged countries to strengthen global cooperation to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases (TADs), stressing that they now pose one of the most urgent threats to food security and economic stability. Speaking at an information session on the new Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) in Rome, he warned that recent funding cuts could reverse decades of progress in disease prevention at a time when global risks are rising.
For more than two decades, FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) has supported over 50 countries, proving that prevention is far more cost-effective than responding to animal health crises. QU emphasized that the world cannot afford to lose the systems that took years to build and reiterated that the cost of inaction would be far greater.
Transboundary animal diseases are spreading faster as human and animal populations move and interact more frequently. Recent outbreaks—including African swine fever, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—have affected dozens of countries and caused severe economic and production losses. The global livestock sector, valued at up to USD 3.3 trillion, suffers billions in losses each year, while aquaculture faces major annual impacts as well. These diseases weaken food production, undermine trade, harm livelihoods, and can even spill over to humans, making them a significant global concern.
The growing demand for livestock and aquaculture products, combined with the dependence of nearly 2 billion people on these sectors, increases the urgency to strengthen protection systems. Livestock and aquaculture are central to nutrition, employment, and economic opportunity, especially for low- and middle-income countries. Safeguarding past achievements and scaling efforts is essential to preventing future crises.
FAO’s long-standing leadership in animal health includes its partnership with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) through the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of TADs (GF-TADs). ECTAD’s global network of experts provides rapid response, surveillance, and coordination, helping countries contain diseases before they spread internationally. Member States have called for renewed commitment and resources to strengthen this work and reinforce global resilience.
In response, FAO has created a new sustainable model under the GPP-TAD, built on shared responsibility, country leadership, and stronger engagement with regional partners, the private sector, and financial institutions. The model aims to reduce outbreaks, minimize economic disruptions, and build long-term resilience. Its tiered funding structure allows all countries—regardless of income level—to contribute according to their capacities, reflecting global solidarity and shared protection.
High-income countries will provide foundational support, middle-income countries can invest financially or in-kind, and low-income countries will receive tailored assistance backed by solidarity funds. This approach ensures broader participation and long-term sustainability while strengthening global defenses against animal diseases.
QU emphasized that no country can address these challenges alone. Through the GPP-TAD, FAO aims to unite governments, development banks, regional organizations, the private sector, and philanthropic partners in a coordinated effort to reduce risks, reinforce animal health systems, and prevent future crises.
