USDA allocates $100M to combat avian flu and support farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a new funding initiative aimed at combating highly pathogenic avian influenza and addressing its impact on poultry production and egg prices. The move follows U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ recent declaration of emergency funding to curb the spread of the virus and stabilize the egg market.

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration, the USDA has earmarked up to $100 million for research, prevention, and potential vaccine development efforts. This initiative seeks to provide direct support to farmers and ranchers while fostering innovative solutions to manage HPAI outbreaks effectively.

»Related: RFK Jr. proposes letting bird flu spread in poultry — to better ID any immunities

The funding, available through a competitive application process, is open to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics, and therapeutics, as well as state agencies, universities, and livestock producer organizations. The USDA has outlined key priorities for proposals, including:

• Development of novel therapeutics and improved diagnostics for HPAI in poultry.
• Research on avian influenza risk pathways to improve biosecurity and outbreak response strategies.
• Advancement of vaccines designed to protect poultry while maintaining strict biosecurity measures.

The USDA says it will evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions to prevent and treat infected flocks while working with HHS to develop prevention strategies that safeguard agricultural and human health.

The official funding opportunity announcement, including application guidelines, is available on the APHIS website. Interested applicants can also access details via ezFedGrants and Grants.gov by searching USDA-APHIS-10025-VSSP0000-25-0015. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2025.

Organizations planning to apply must be registered with the U.S. Government System for Award Management. To assist applicants, the USDA will host a webinar on April 1, 2025, at 12 p.m. ET, providing guidance on the funding process and application submission.

While the USDA is investigating the feasibility of poultry vaccination against HPAI, no vaccines have been authorized yet. Before making a determination, the agency will seek feedback from governors, state agriculture departments, veterinarians, farmers, public health officials, and the general public.

The USDA is specifically looking for vaccine candidates that meet the following criteria:

• Strong match to circulating HPAI strains
• Compatibility with Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals strategies
• Compliance with serologic testing protocols
• Ability to provide long-term or sterilizing immunity
• Hands-off delivery methods suitable for large-scale poultry farming
• Proven safety, potency, and efficacy

This initiative is intended to be part of Rollins’ broader five-prong strategy to mitigate HPAI’s impact on the poultry industry, support farmers, and ensure consumers continue to have access to safe and affordable food.

»Related: USDA mistakenly fires key bird-flu response employees