KANSAS CITY, MO. – The National Institute of Animal Agriculture (NIAA) recently approved forming a new council called the Animal Disease Issues & Emergency Management Council.

The council established a forum for animal agriculture, animal health industry officials, regulatory veterinarians, government agencies and academia to identify and seek solutions involving emerging and emergency animal diseases that pose concerns to animal agriculture or public health.

NIAA stated that the new council combines the Animal Health and Emergency Management Council and the Global Animal Health and Emerging Disease Council.

Lucas Pantaleon, DVM, of DVM One Health and Jule Smith, DVM, of University of Vermont, College of Agriculture and Life Science will serve as co-chairs of the new council.

The non-profit organization said these councils were developed to collaborate, learn and discuss current and emerging animal health topics and to provide platforms for the exchange of scientific information, find common ground and seek resolutions across species segments.

“Councils within NIAA are regularly reviewed, re-affirmed, modified, or sunset to ensure relevance to current industry patterns and needs,” NIAA stated. “In addition to standing councils, NIAA members form work groups to address specific issues. Last year, at NIAA’s Annual Conference, the council members noted increasing discussion and scrutiny about the use of mRNA vaccine technologies in animal agriculture. This resulted in a working group of industry experts in veterinary medicine, epidemiology, virology, and communications to create scientifically factual resources for animal agriculture – and its role in today’s food system.”

Participation in NIAA’s councils is open to animal agriculture stakeholders. Interested parties can find more information about Council programming at AnimalAgriculture.org.