News HighlightBipartisan Commission on Biodefense Highlights Unique Role of Nation’s Land-grant Universities in Safeguarding America’s Food and Agriculture
A new report from the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense finds that America’s land-grant universities can play a critical role in protecting the Nation’s food and agriculture, and details 15 specific recommendations to maximize their effectiveness. Titled "Boots on the Ground: Land-Grant Universities in the Fight Against Threats to Food and Agriculture," the report’s recommendations address the coordination of federal and land-grant food and agro-biodefense efforts, early warning of threats to food and agriculture, and incorporation of land-grant universities into preparedness, response, and mitigation of various possible events.
More09 May, 2022
Commission announces new Deputy Director position to lead biodefense policy and research efforts
The new Deputy Director will support the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense by leading biodefense policy analysis and research about the prevention, deterrence, preparedness for, surveillance and detection of, response to, attribution of, recovery from, and mitigation of naturally occurring, accidentally released, and intentionally introduced biological threats. This is a senior, high-visibility position and the successful candidate is expected to serve as a strategic planner, manager, supervisor and substantive expert, reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as the Acting Executive Director when necessary. The pandemic of 2020 has shined a spotlight on the Commission’s work and this new Deputy Director joins at an exciting time of high-intensity focus and rapid-growth. If you are interested, please send your resume to admin@biodefensecommission.org.
Watch the Commission’s May 3, 2022 meeting, “When Borders Don’t Matter: Defending the Homeland Against Biological Threats”, which provided the Commission with a better understanding of: (1) biological incidents that affect homeland and national security; (2) roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in addressing biological threats; and (3) opportunities to enhance national biodefense.
Commission
May 17, 2022
Russian aggression underscores the U.S.’s need for greater investment in medical countermeasures
Russia is creating the possibility of a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) nightmare. Its aggression against Ukraine makes it clear that American investment in innovative medical countermeasures is long overdue. U.S. policymakers must ensure that this country is as ready as it can be before the worst comes calling.
May 10, 2022
Report: Land-grant universities key to agricultural biosecurity
Faced with disease threats to U.S. agriculture, land-grant universities such as Colorado State University must provide a first line of defense to protect public health, economic and national security and the livelihood of farm communities.
May 9, 2022
Land-grant universities like CSU will be key to preventing agriculture disease threats
Titled “Boots on the Ground, Land-Grant Universities in the Fight Against Threats to Food and Agriculture,” the 34-page report by the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense casts the peril in a national and economic security context. Despite the danger, government policy and industry practices are not adequately prepared to respond to outbreaks that could affect crops, livestock and farms – a leadership void that select universities can help fill to benefit farmers and ranchers.
May 9, 2022
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense Highlights Unique Role of Nation’s Land-grant Universities in Safeguarding America’s Food and Agriculture
A new report from the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense finds that America’s land-grant universities can play a critical role in protecting the Nation’s food and agriculture, and details 15 specific recommendations to maximize their effectiveness. Titled "Boots on the Ground: Land-Grant Universities in the Fight Against Threats to Food and Agriculture," the report’s recommendations address the coordination of federal and land-grant food and agro-biodefense efforts, early warning of threats to food and agriculture, and incorporation of land-grant universities into preparedness, response, and mitigation of various possible events.
May 5, 2022
EU and US move to control risk of dangerous pathogens escaping from labs
But for now, it appears that these recommendations and discussions in the US have not translated into new lab safety initiatives at individual universities or by regulatory bodies, at least publicly. Asha George, executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, said she was not aware of any such moves recently.
April 16, 2022
With ‘Far Worse’ Threats Lurking, Plan Rallies Agencies to End Pandemics Within Decade
The Apollo Program is based on multiple tracks of “groundbreaking solutions,” public-private partnerships, strong international relationships, “sustained bipartisan support and stalwart leadership,” the commission said in its new Athena Agenda report.
