The University of Vermont received a $2.478 million Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grants program. The five-year award will support research to better understand and predict the risk of transmission of foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever among livestock herds in the United States. Key products and services will include developing an artificial intelligence model to simulate transmission of the diseases; conducting surveys and online experiments with livestock producers to calibrate human behavior representation; and identifying risk management strategies and leverage points to minimize spread. Findings aim to help set livestock policies, provide guidance to veterinary officials, and generate knowledge for producers on biosecurity cost-effectiveness. Overall, the award aims to improve prevention and control of foreign animal diseases and boost biosecurity.
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