The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has announced a £10m project using genome sequencing technologies to boost surveillance for animal and plant diseases.
The Genomics for Animal and Plant Disease Consortium (GAP-DC) project will undertake surveillance across animal, plant and aquatic environments, using advanced genome sequencing technologies.
This method reads the complete genetic code of a living organism, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, or animals, to detect, identify and track pathogens with precision. For example, when avian influenza is found in UK poultry, genome sequencing can help confirm the virus type, trace its spread, and detect any mutations, supporting disease control measures.
The £10m of new funding provided by Defra and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) aims strengthen pathogen detection across the UK over the next two years and help protect the UK economy, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
Research to be undertaken in collaboration with seven expert partners will include a focus on increasing the speed of pathogen detection at our borders, addressing new and re-emerging disease outbreaks, developing new strategies to control and mitigate endemic disease, and an improved approach to working with stakeholders and the community.
It will also investigate disease spillover from wild animals and plants – when a virus moves from one species to other, such as the transmission of the COVID-19 virus from bats to humans.
The UK faces significant and growing economic threats from pests and diseases affecting agriculture, livestock, and the environment.
Invasive species alone cost the UK economy an estimated £4 billion annually, while plant pathogens and pests contribute to substantial crop losses, while livestock disease such as foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever and avian influenza can have devastating financial and societal consequences.
APHA Interim Chief Executive Dr Jenny Stewart said: “Disease presents a significant risk to our farmers, global trade and human health.
“This vital funding and collaboration with world leading experts will help APHA identify and tackle disease risk more effectively. This research will lead to significantly advanced surveillance capabilities to protect UK borders from new and existing threats.”