Transformational Strategies for Farm Output Risk Mitigation (TRANSFORM)

woman with chickens

Contract Start Year

2021

Contract End Year

2026

AOR

Ashna Kibria

Chief of Party

Annie Kneedler

Prime Partner

Cargill

A Global Health Security Challenge

Emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are amongst today’s defining global health security challenges. Most emerging infectious diseases — more than 70% — originate from animals. Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) – the spread of disease from one animal to another – can decimate farmers’ flocks and herds. And the more we use antibiotics for animal agriculture, the more we struggle with antimicrobial resistance threatening our ability to treat infections in humans and animals.

By 2050, it’s estimated we will need to produce 60% more food to feed a world population of 9.3 billion. At the same time, without action, antimicrobial resistance is projected to cause an 11% loss in global livestock production by 2050 – causing a major hit to the food production and farmer livelihoods.

+60%

By 2050, it's a projected we will need 60% more food to feed a growing population

-11%

Meanwhile, AMR is projected to cause an 11% loss in livestock production.

70%

70% of emerging infectious diseases in animals and capable of transmission to humans.

Animal Agriculture has a Role to Play

USAID understands that human health is inextricably linked with the health of animals and the environment. Healthy animals reduce the need for antibiotics. And less antibiotics in the food system is better for all of us. That’s why, through the USAID Global Health Security TRANSFORM activity, a private-sector-led consortium is researching and developing market-driven solutions that improve animal health so significantly that the risk of disease and zoonotic pathogens is considerably lower, animal production is considerably higher, and the use of antibiotics as a treatment for illness, to prevent disease, or to enhance performance is significantly reduced.

This unique initiative at the intersection of agriculture and human health represents a new and innovative way that USAID is working with the private sector. Together, the public and private sector have greater scale and effectiveness in tackling the complexity of today’s challenges and can spur sustainable impact. 

THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS BRINGING AN EVIDENCE-BASED, MARKET-DRIVEN APPROACH

TRANSFORM is working in Kenya, India, and Vietnam to increase the capacity of small- and large-scale farmers, governments, and agribusinesses to prevent emerging zoonoses and transboundary animal disease and mitigate antimicrobial resistance. 

Private sector agribusinesses regularly use research and development to test agricultural products and services in market before bringing them to scale. Cargill knows this is critical for long-term market uptake. The same is true for TRANSFORM. This project is using research and development to advance sustainable solutions that improve animal health so significantly that the risk of disease is considerably lower, animal production is considerably higher, the use of antibiotics is significantly reduced. All-the-while, we remain focused on the productivity and profitability of farmers.

TRANSFORM'S FOCUS AREAS 

We are working across the following integrated focus areas to do our part in contributing to increased global health security and increased access to safe, affordable animal-sourced nutrition.

1. ON-FARM PRACTICES
Working with farmers, intermediaries, and private sector companies to encourage adoption of on-farm biosecurity, farm management and antimicrobial use practices that improve animal health

2. HOLISTIC ANIMAL NUTRITION RESEARCH
 Researching animal nutrition interventions to identify market-driven solutions that improve animal immune response to disease, reduce zoonotic pathogens, increase productivity, and avoid the need to use antimicrobials

3. ACCESS TO FINANCE
Partnering with local financial institutions to mobilize private capital to provide loans to farmers so they can invest in improved farm management and biosecurity practices that will increase human health and improve productivity

4. ANTIMICROBIAL USE STEWARDSHIP
Engaging companies and associations to adopt or endorse science-based antimicrobial use stewardship principles to avoid the need to use antimicrobials and use responsibly when needed to combat antimicrobial resistance

Our Team

Annie Kneedler

Author:

Chief of Party, TRANSFORM

Michelle Cassal

Photograph of woman

Deputy Chief of Party | TRANSFORM

Dennis Erpelding

Dennis Erpelding

Chairman

Victor Nsereko

Dr Victor Nsereko

Research Portfolio Manager

Jarin Sawanboonchun

Jarin Sawanboonchun

Aquaculture Technical Specialist

Claire Daley

Claire

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager

Zipporah Kageha Karani

Zipporah Kageha Karani

Communications Specialist

Show More

Resources from Diverse Perspectives

This is where you can find the latest lessons, best practices, research results and thought leadership pieces from our diverse team. 

Workers inspect and process shrimp

Researching Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture

Jarin Sawanboonchun, Cargill's Aquaculture Technical Specialist and member of TRANSFORM, shares approaches for addressing antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture.

Chickens

A Research-Driven Model Leading to Healthier Animals and Safer Animal-Sourced Foods

Cargill's Dr. Victor Nsereko has spent his career researching animal health and understanding how to reduce the risk of food borne pathogens. He is now TRANSFORM's research portfolio manager. He shares insights into

Michelle headshot

Michelle Cassal on How Diverse Teams are Solving Agriculture’s Biggest Problems

Michelle Cassal, the Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID TRANSFORM Program at Cargill explains her role, the impact the ag sector can have on human health through addressing zoonotic diseases and antibiotic resistance

Onehealth

Antimicrobial Policy Direction: Decades of Learnings

This Agrilinks post was written by Dennis L. Erpelding, science advisor, International Poultry Council (IPC); project lead, IPC Transformational Strategies for Farm Output Mitigation (TRANSFORM); chairman, Global Farm

Chicks

Private Sector Q&A on Livestock and Global Health Security

Dr. Jason Shelton, Cargill’s TRANSFORM Chief of Party and International Poultry Council's Dennis Erpelding engage in a Q+A about the interconnections between the private sector, global health security and livestock.

TRANSFORM's Consortium

TRANSFORM is a part of USAID’s Global Health Security efforts, which invest in "One Health" approaches that recognize that the future well-being of humans, animals, and the environment are inextricably linked. Our consortium of private and public sector organizations are working to create shared value – because strengthening the market drives the opportunity for all. Each of the following members contributes unique expertise and capabilities.

  • CARGILL, a global agribusiness company, contributes its relationships to farms of all sizes across multiple species and offers products, services, and solutions that support animal health by balancing gut microbiota and the immune system.  
  • HEIFER INTERNATIONAL, a global non-governmental organization working to end hunger and poverty through agriculture, contributes to relationships with smallholder farmers across the world.​ 
  • INTERNATIONAL POULTRY COUNCIL, a global industry membership organization, contributes by bringing together poultry stakeholders from all continents, representing the value chain from genetics to consumption, and working to proactively address shared challenges and opportunities.

TRANSFORM is a part of the USAID Global Health Security Program

USAID’s Global Health Security Program invests in "One Health" approaches -- like TRANSFORM -- that recognize that the future well-being of humans, animals, and the environment are inextricably linked. It includes projects that strengthen the capacity of partner countries to understand and address the risks posed by zoonotic diseases that are spilling over from animals to humans and causing epidemics; strengthen national laboratory and surveillance systems; train the next generation of health workers in “One Health” capacities; improve risk communication to inform the public and health workers on infection prevention and control; address the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance; promote innovation in vaccine development; and conduct research into new and emerging viruses.

Learn more about the USAID Global Health Security portfolio here.