The ‘Global Programme – Transboundary Animal Diseases’ (GF-TADs) is a joint initiative of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It aims to prevent, detect and control animal diseases that cross borders, threatening food security, livelihoods and local economies.
The programme encourages the development of activities tailored to regional needs, focusing on priority diseases. Within this framework, a Regional Steering Committee was established in the Americas in 2005.
Following the resignation of Dr Koren Custer, who had been elected chair of the committee in October 2024, Dr Conrad Estrada was appointed as the new chair. Estrada will serve until the next elections scheduled for 2027.
Trained in Peru, Dr Estrada accomplished a master’s degree in preventive veterinary medicine at the University of California-Davis before joining the Veterinary Services in 2005 and the USDA-APHIS Foreign Service in 2009. With an extensive international background, he currently serves as Regional Director for Europe, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. In his role, he supports APHIS’ mission to protect U.S. agriculture through sanitary trade negotiations (SPS), pest and disease surveillance, and training of animal and plant health professionals overseas.
‘I am honoured to take on this responsibility at such a crucial time for animal health in the region, threatened by diseases such as African swine fever and Avian influenza,’ said Dr Estrada. ‘I am confident that, working in a coordinated and strategic manner, we will be able to strengthen the resilience of our transboundary disease prevention and response systems, as demonstrated by the progress we have made in eradicating foot and mouth disease in large parts of the region,’ he added.
With his leadership and international experience, Dr Estrada seeks to strengthen collaboration between countries in the region, to address the health challenges affecting animal production, trade and food security in the Americas.
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