DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has invited the state’s animal health and bioscience companies to apply for the department’s Livestock Protection Innovation Grant to develop vaccines to help protect livestock from foreign animal diseases.

“Our livestock industry contributes more than $20 billion annually to Iowa’s economy, supporting farm families, main street businesses, and rural communities across the state,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig in his Nov. 6 announcement.

“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the agriculture community, and our farmers and livestock producers take animal health and biosecurity seriously, and our state is leading the way in foreign animal disease preparedness,” he added.

He said the initiative strengthens Iowa’s foreign animal disease preparedness, and supports innovation in vaccine research.

“Whether it’s known threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever, and foot and mouth disease, or other emerging threats like New World screwworm, it’s critical that we have safe tools and technologies to respond quickly and effectively. By investing in vaccine development, we are protecting our herds and flocks, safeguarding our food supply, and sustaining the ag economy and rural way of life.”

Launched by IDALS in 2023, the Livestock Protection Innovation Grant Program encourages innovation and strengthens the state’s preparedness against serious animal health threats. The Iowa Legislature appropriated $100,000 during the 2025 legislative session to support continued vaccine development within Iowa.

Currently, Iowa is home to an innovative and globally recognized agriculture and bioscience sector, with companies leading advancements in animal health, biotechnology, and vaccine research, according to IDALS.

As America’s cultivation corridor, Iowa continues to be a place where public and private partners collaborate to develop the tools and technologies that improve animal health and strengthen food security around the world, IDALS said. Officials said applications will be evaluated through a competitive review process, and one grant of $100,000 will be awarded.

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria: The company must be based in Iowa, and be engaged in the development of livestock and other animal vaccines; the company must have a prior relationship with the USDA, including a collaboration with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, or by having a product registered with the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics; and the company must have a vaccine platform that is viable for a foreign animal disease response.

Grant Dewell, Iowa State University associate professor of veterinary medicine and extension beef veterinarian, told Farm World vaccines that can protect livestock from foreign animal disease can be vital, but hard to manage.

“Generally, we can’t vaccinate against these diseases as that could hamper surveillance, so the goal is to have a large enough vaccine bank that can be deployed when needed,” he said. “However, managing inventories as the vaccines expire and trying to predict potential strains etc., make this a very vital, but challenging endeavor.”

ISU has collaborated in the past on developing vaccines when new pathogens are seen that are not necessarily foreign animal diseases by classification, he said regarding the possibility of Iowa-based animal health and bioscience companies collaborating with ISU and the USDA in its vaccine research.

“There is normally a lot of collaboration between these companies, and ISU and the USDA,” he added. “There is some ongoing research currently looking at possible vaccines targeted to H5N1 (HPAI) for dairy cattle. Foreign animal disease pathogens are harder as they require higher bio-safety levels and oversight.”