Imagine a disease so devastating that it could wipe out entire pig farms, cripple a major agricultural industry and impact the food supply for countless families.
This is the reality of African swine fever (ASF), a global animal health threat that has caused immense damage in other parts of the world.
According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Information Service, if ASF entered the United States, it would:
- Halt U.S. pork and pork product exports
- Drop hog prices by up to 50%
- Create widespread disruptions in pork production
- Result in job loss
- Force a culling of the herd
- Immediately stop movement of live swine and semen through the country for at least 72 hours and more
This means that keeping the virus out of the country is a top priority for the United States and USDA. A crucial partnership is working tirelessly to make that happen.
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) have been working on a vital mission: to better understand and reduce the risk of ASF spreading through feed ingredients. This work is supported by a $650,000 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). With NIFA support, these organizations are making significant progress in protecting the U.S. swine herd from this dangerous disease.
“This partnership is more than a research project. It develops proactive tools to defend against a disease that could devastate U.S. pork production. By investing in science and collaboration, together these organizations are helping ensure a secure future for American agriculture,” said Dr. Michelle Colby, DVM, and NIFA national program leader.
The Hidden Danger in Feed: Why Soybeans Matter
Diseases like ASF can spread through contaminated animal feed. Soybeans, which are traded globally, are one of the main ingredients used in pig feed. This global trade, while essential for agriculture, also creates a pathway for diseases to travel. If soybean products come from countries or regions where ASF is common, there is a risk that the virus could hitch a ride and be introduced into the U.S. swine population.
As a result, scientists at the highly secure Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) are investigating how stable ASF is in soybean-based feed ingredients and developing better tools to find any virus contamination.
Led by Dr. Megan Niederwerder, SHIC executive director, and Lindsay Gabbert, DHS principal investigator at PIADC, the team has achieved several significant milestones over the past three years.
"The collaboration with DHS at Plum Island, made possible through USDA NIFA support, is an outstanding example of Federal–industry partnership in action," Niederwerder said. "Together, we are generating science-driven solutions that help protect U.S. swine producers and strengthen agricultural defense across the feed supply chain."
Advancing Science-Based Tools to Strengthen Feed Safety
Researchers are developing reliable testing methods to ensure the highest safety standards in the lab. Together, these efforts build the knowledge, tools and skilled workforce needed to protect U.S. agriculture and support the nation’s ability to respond quickly if the virus ever threatens American farms.
Researchers have developed and validated laboratory methods to recover and detect ASF from soybean feed ingredient samples. This means scientists have created and proven effective ways to find tiny traces of the virus in complex feed materials. Without these specialized methods, it would be much harder, if not impossible, to accurately test feed for contamination. This breakthrough is fundamental to any effective surveillance or mitigation strategy.
Scientists have completed regulatory and biosafety protocols necessary for in vitro and in vivo studies at PIADC. "In vitro" studies refer to experiments done in a lab setting, like in test tubes or petri dishes, while "in vivo" studies involve working with live animals. Because ASF is so dangerous, strict rules and safety procedures are essential to protect the U.S. animal population from accidental exposure. Establishing these protocols ensures that all research is conducted safely and ethically, allowing for critical experiments to move forward.
The partnership also has completed a comprehensive assessment of feed inoculation, virus decay rates and environmental stability under multiple temperature conditions. This scientific work helps answer critical questions. How much virus is needed to contaminate feed? How long does the virus survive in different types of feed and in various environmental conditions like heat or cold? This information is crucial for knowing how long ASF might remain a threat in feed during shipping or storage. Additionally, it helps predict risk and develop effective ways to neutralize the virus.
Finally, the project has focused on the cross-training of scientists, veterinarians and research staff in advanced techniques for ASF detection in feed. This means that experts from different fields are learning from each other and becoming proficient in the latest methods for finding ASF in feed. Building a skilled workforce is essential for rapid response in case of an outbreak. It ensures that the U.S. has trained professionals ready to conduct testing and implement control measures, strengthening the overall defense against the virus.
“These accomplishments represent major steps forward in understanding the risks associated with feed ingredients and improving the tools available to detect ASF contamination,” said Dr. Amer Fayad, NIFA national program leader. “They also support USDA’s priority to protect American agriculture from invasive pests and diseases by advancing the tools needed to prevent, detect, and respond to these threats.”