GUEST EDITORIAL: FFAR Funds Research to Protect US Farms as Fall Migratory Birds Spread HPAI

As migratory birds head south for the winter, they unwittingly carry an unwelcome passenger, the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu. With each stop at a pond to drink or a field to feed, they shed the virus, spreading it invisibly across landscapes and into new hosts. In recent weeks, HPAI cases have surged nationwide, with the virus detected in 65 commercial and backyard flocks across the country in October and affecting an estimated 3.6 million birds, according to the USDA.  

Despite its name, bird flu doesn’t stop with birds. The virus infects other animals, including humans. In recent months, infections have also been confirmed in dairy cows and other mammals in a half dozen states. 

The persistence and adaptability of HPAI make one thing clear: efforts to control and prevent the disease since the current outbreak began in the U.S. in early 2022 have fallen short. Despite widespread biosecurity measures and culling protocols, HPAI continues to evolve and spread, reigniting concerns about the U.S. preparedness to respond to outbreaks. Its continued spread underscores the urgent need to deepen our understanding of the virus and develop more comprehensive, coordinated strategies to protect U.S. agriculture and food security.   

That is why the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) has been investing in science-based solutions targeting HPAI since the current outbreak began, funding 16 projects across poultry, swine and dairy. FFAR identifies and supports the most promising research aimed at safeguarding animal health, protecting producers and strengthening the nation’s food security. 

FFAR understands that the fight against HPAI demands collaboration and innovation. By working closely with farmers, researchers and industry partners, like the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and USPOULTRY, we are advancing multi-species research to outpace the virus and address the disease throughout the production chain. 

Among these initiatives is research to develop faster, more reliable diagnostic tools that can detect HPAI before outbreaks spiral out of control, giving producers and veterinarians precious time to respond. Other FFAR-funded projects are advancing vaccine development, as well as new biosecurity strategies that can be implemented across farms of all sizes. 

For example, with FFAR funding, Barnwell Bio researchers are creating a waste-stream animal health monitoring system designed to detect the virus in asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infected animals, an approach that could revolutionize early warning and prevention. Additional teams are evaluating the effectiveness of chemical controls for decontaminating milk and identifying outbreak prevention strategies through the WaterFowl Alert Network, the world’s first remote-sensing tool designed to predict, daily, where waterfowl roost and migrate.