The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are seeking suggestions for experts to participate in the new study to examine evidence on biosafety and biosecurity in livestock production systems. The committee will identify evidence gaps, implementation challenges, and recommendations to reduce influenza spillover risk. In carrying out its work, the committee will focus on biosafety and biosecurity measures that reduce the risk of influenza emergence, transmission, spillover, and spread among livestock populations and between animals and humans. Specifically, the committee will 1) analyze commercial livestock systems (poultry, swine, cattle) to identify opportunities and challenges; 2) assess opportunities and challenges for backyard and informal farming systems; and 3) examine cross-cutting One Health (human, animal, environmental) sector considerations relevant to influenza prevention, preparedness, and response. The committee's report will include near-term actions that could be implemented by producers, industry organizations, and state and federal agencies over the next 2-5 years to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity practices across livestock production systems and reduce the risk of seasonal and pandemic influenza transmission. It will also provide a longer-term vision and key policy considerations for developing a coordinated, evidence-based framework for biosafety and biosecurity across livestock production systems.
Using these suggestions, National Academies staff will be looking to build a committee of approximately 10-12 volunteer experts in addition to collecting information for potential speakers, participants, and peer reviewers for any publications resulting from the activity. Based on the Statement of Task, staff are looking for expertise particularly in the following areas:
- Influenza research
- Pandemic influenza preparedness
- Veterinary epidemiology
- Farm biosecurity and biosafety
- One Health
- Agricultural economics
- Implementation/behavioral science
- Livestock production systems
- Occupational health in agriculture