The NBAF: safeguarding our food supply

Even more imminent than the threat of a rogue nuclear attack in the next five years is the threat of an attack by biological weapons, according to the World at Risk report issued late last year by former senators Bob Graham of Florida and Jim Talent of Missouri.

This is a view reinforced by numerous other experts such as veterinarian Bob Larson, who has said that a combination of factors, such as increased world travel and trade, as well as the threat of terrorism aimed at agriculture, has created a “very real” risk of accidental or intentional introduction of animal diseases to the U.S.

Because our nation must safeguard the food supply and agriculture economy, the federal government has been moving forward strategically with plans to accelerate the discovery of vaccines and countermeasures with a state-of-the-art animal disease research center called the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).

In 2006, Congress appropriately began funding the development of the NBAF in line with Homeland Presidential Security Directive 9. With strong bipartisan support, this investment has continued each year as the departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture have undertaken the exhaustive and exacting process of developing a modern lab that can safely and effectively achieve a modern research mission.

Congress has invested $82 million in the NBAF to date, and President Obama included another $36 million for the NBAF in this year’s budget. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has expressed her unwavering support for keeping the project on track so important research is not delayed.

All of these actions have put us on exactly the right course, and it is important for Congress to continue NBAF funding this fall because the mission of protecting the American food supply and agriculture economy is too important to delay. The NBAF will conduct the research necessary to enhance our nation’s protection from diseases that could cause tremendous financial disruption that would ripple throughout the economy.

This is a challenge we are ready and able to meet. As veterinarian Kelly Lechtenberg, a third-generation Nebraska livestock producer, has pointed out: “Infectious disease agents can be ravaging, but they are not magic. Our challenges lie in obtaining the most complete understanding possible of the infectious agents of national security interest. Our opportunities for a safer future lie in our ability to learn more about the risks we face, to educate those involved, and continue to develop procedures and technologies that mitigate risks posed by our enemies. These opportunities will be realized most completely, most efficiently and most securely in Manhattan.”