Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate officials celebrated the dedication and ribbon-cutting of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. This facility, which offers the highest level of biocontainment laboratories and safety protocols, is the first of its kind in the United States and will allow scientists to study and diagnose critical animal diseases.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “This new, innovative facility will give USDA scientists access to cutting-edge, safe and secure technology so they can continue to lead the world in animal health research, training and diagnostics to protect our food supply, agricultural economy and public health.”
NBAF will replace DHS’ Plum Island Animal Disease Center, which is a biosafety level-3 facility in New York that is more than 68 years old. Both departments have collaborated on the requirements for this next-generation science facility since 2006, and Manhattan, Kan. was selected as NBAF’s site in 2009.
Julie Brewer, DHS S&T Executive Director of Innovation & Collaboration, says, “A lot of people ask, you know, why is DHS involved in an agricultural research lab? It would be catastrophic if it came into the United States, any foreign animal disease, and it’s critical. The food supply is critical, the zoonotic diseases and protecting human health and DHS needs and wants to be a partner with USDA in this space. So we will continue to be strong strategic partners. We will continue to understand the threats that face this nation and work with our USDA partners to prioritize that research. So we’re doing the most important research to advance vaccines, diagnostics, bio-therapeutics to protect our animals and protect our food supply.”
Adjacent to Kansas State University and on the Western edge of the largest concentration of animal health companies in the nation, the 48-acre NBAF campus includes more than 700,000 square feet of total building space. The main building, at 500,000 square feet, includes containment laboratories, animal holding facilities, office spaces, facility support areas and required safety systems — such as redundant high efficiency particulate air filter and waste decontamination systems.
USDA news release/USDA live stream
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