National Agricultural Biosecurity Center

About

History

In March 1999, K-State proposed a Homeland Defense Food Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness Program (pdf). Kansas State University President Jon Wefald presented testimony in October 1999 to the U.S. Senate's Emerging Threats Subcommittee, and described the "Agricultural Biological Weapons Threat Food Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness (pdf)." Succeeding this testimony, the K-State Food Safety and security program was launched in addition to, the construction of Pat Roberts Hall and the Biosecurity Research Institute.

The K-State Food Safety and Security program lead to the establishment of the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, or NABC, in 2002. The NABC was commissioned to collaborate with other land-grant universities and strategic partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, or USDA-APHIS, to coordinates the development, implementation and enhancement of diverse capabilities for addressing threats to the nation's agricultural economy and food supply.

Mission

The mission of the NABC is to facilitate prevention and response strategies that address emerging threats to agricultural economies and the food supply in the U.S. and the world.

Strategy

The NABC participates in planning, training, outreach, and research activities related to:

  • Vulnerability (threat and risk) analysis.
  • Review and analysis of policy and procedures to improve training, exercises, and incident response planning for food and agricultural events.
  • Incident prevention and response materials, including lessons learned, detection/prevention technologies, exercises and after action reports, and educational courses promoting awareness.
  • Collaboration among academic institutions, private industry, government agencies, and other allied organizations.

Subject matter experts

NABC specializes in connecting subject matter experts at Kansas State University, partner organizations and universities, and government agencies. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to:

  • Animal diseases and natural and agricultural plant diseases.
  • Food defense.
  • One health.
  • National security and trade.
  • Emergency management.