UK Endemic Livestock Research Initiative

The Initiative seeks to build partnerships between academics, businesses and on-farm users and invest in collaborative research and development projects focused on predicting, preventing, mitigating against and treating endemic disease on UK farmed animals. The research will support the livestock industry’s continued progress in improving animal health and welfare and reducing environmental impacts.

The Initiative will consist of two phases. The first phase is a priming partnerships phase consisting of a BBSRC/AHDB Catalysing Partnerships opportunity to support knowledge exchange; and a priming partnership workshop, with associated funding from BBSRC, Defra, DAERA, Scottish Government and Welsh Government, to be held virtually over two weeks from 15^th – 26^th November 2021. Researchers, farmers, businesses, vets and other organisations are invited to attend the workshop to form groups that co-develop ideas for research and innovation to tackle endemic diseases in livestock. At the end of the two-week workshop, groups will share their ideas with all workshop participants and receive feedback. Some workshop participants will then be invited to develop their research proposals and submit them for funding as part of the first phase. This will be linked to a wider Phase 2 open call for larger collaborative research and development investment, to be launched in autumn 2022.

The following are the web links to the funding opportunity and the online priming partnership workshop application for the first phase of the Initiative:

• Funding opportunity web link: Develop Solutions for Endemic Livestock Disease - UKRI; and
• Online workshop application form: Application Form

New Funding Opportunity: Phase 2 of the Endemic Livestock Diseases Initiative

The Endemic Livestock Diseases Initiative aims to meaningfully reduce the overall level and impact of endemic diseases on the UK livestock sector, to improve the productivity, health and welfare of animals. Building on the success of the Catalysing Partnerships projects in 2021, and the Priming Partnerships projects which are commencing now, Phase Two of the Endemic Livestock Diseases Initiative will make larger and longer grants available of between £500k- £1 million, to enable research and innovation partnerships that progress challenges associated with endemic disease in livestock. The BBSRC initiative, which is co-funded with Defra, Daera and Scottish Government, will bring academia together with businesses across the agricultural sector, including farmers and practitioners, to co-create novel prevention and intervention solutions. Standard BBSRC eligibility criteria apply.

Further information about this funding opportunity, as well as details for how to apply can be found here on the UKRI Funding Finder

To provide an opportunity to learn more about this opportunity and ask questions, the BBSRC Business Interaction Unit will also be hosting two webinars:

• 19 August 2022, 13:00 to 15:00:
  Register for this webinar on Eventbrite
• 5 September 2022, 13:00 to 15:00:
  Register for this webinar on Eventbrite