The Animal Plant Health Agency’s laboratories at Weybridge are set to receive £200m in additional funding for safeguarding and enhancements, in line with pledges made in the Autumn Budget.
According to the Government, this will help to protect profits for farmers and food producers. It states that the laboratories are in poor condition and without funding, the long-term future would be in doubt.
The threat from animal diseases is increasing globally, with nearly two-thirds of infectious diseases in humans originating in animals. The funding will help to replace and upgrade biosecurity facilities, improving the organisation’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks.
A new science hub will also provide additional capacity.
The upgrades will also safeguard exports of livestock, meat, dairy and animal products, which are worth £16bn to the UK economy.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Animal disease represents a significant risk to Britain’s farmers, global trade and human health.
“We inherited laboratories at Weybridge in poor condition, reducing our ability to respond to animal disease outbreaks.
“Recognising the importance of protecting our farming and food sector in order to deliver growth across the UK, we are bolstering our national biosecurity and safeguarding the county from these diseases with a £200 million investment into our scientific capabilities.”
Animal Plant Health Agency chief executive Jenny Stewart said: “APHA is at the forefront of tackling animal and plant disease outbreaks, with our experts working around the clock to manage threats to the UK’s biosecurity.
“This funding is hugely welcomed to support crucial upgrades that will allow us to continue delivering the disease surveillance, detection and research work which protects against new and existing threats.
“The work we do is world-leading, and this funding affirms the government’s commitment to protecting animal and plant health and will help us protect the economy from disease risk.”