STORY
The UK government has announced a £10 million investment in advanced genomic technologies to enhance the nation’s biosecurity and protect its agriculture, environment, and economy from the escalating threats of animal and plant diseases. The funding will support the Genomics for Animal and Plant Disease Consortium (GAP-DC), led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). This initiative aims to implement cutting-edge genome sequencing techniques to detect, identify, and monitor pathogens across animal, plant, and aquatic environments. By reading the complete genetic code of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and animals, scientists can trace disease outbreaks with greater precision and speed.
Dr. Jenny Stewart, APHA’s Interim Chief Executive, emphasized the significance of this development: “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.”
The UK faces substantial economic threats from pests and diseases. Invasive species alone are estimated to cost the economy £4 billion annually, while plant pathogens and pests contribute to significant crop losses. Ash dieback, a disease affecting ash trees, is projected to cost the UK £15 billion over the coming decades. Additionally, livestock diseases such as avian influenza have had devastating impacts, with the poultry meat sector incurring losses exceeding £100 million over a two-year period.
The GAP-DC project will focus on several key areas:
– Enhancing the speed of pathogen detection at UK borders.
– Addressing new and re-emerging disease outbreaks.
– Developing strategies to control and mitigate endemic diseases.
– Investigating disease spillover from wild animals and plants, such as the transmission of viruses between species.
This initiative involves collaboration with seven expert partners and is part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, aiming to bolster the UK’s resilience against biological threats. The announcement coincides with National Plant Health Week (5–12 May 2025), underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s natural resources