Building on its existing farm health technology platform, Be Seen Be Safe is using the funds to research, test and develop the best hardware solution that will allow real-time tracking and tracing of trailers. After the trials are complete, the company will publish and widely distribute recommendations on the best-fit technology along with information on deployment. By using data to monitor the movement of these vehicles, farmers can rapidly contain an outbreak, limit losses and reduce the time it takes to return to normal business.

Disease outbreak can have major impacts on animal welfare, food supply, productivity and producer mental health, and can result in significant economic losses. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting the development ofbiosecurity technologies that can help farmers manage this risk. 

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the innovations of small businesses as they develop solutions to ensure Canada’s agricultural sector can adapt and remain competitive. Be Seen Be Safe Ltd.’s innovative product will help the livestock industry improve its resiliency and allow producers to react quickly and limit impacts if disaster strikes.

“Agricultural producers care about the health of their animals. This investment in Be Seen Be Safe Ltd. supports the development of a data analysis tool that will help contain potential outbreaks to stop the spread of disease. This type of innovation means producers can better protect their animals and their business and continue delivering high-quality food to Canadians and consumers around the world.”

says Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph affirms:

“Disease outbreak on farms can result in significant losses for producers, the sector and the economy. The innovative technologies being developed by Be Seen Be Safe Ltd., right here in Guelph, can help livestock producers mitigate the impacts of potential outbreaks, so they can keep doing the work they love: caring for their animals, running their farm businesses and producing high quality food products for Canadians.”

In conclusion, as Tim Nelson, Founder and President, Be Seen Be Safe  affirms:

“Livestock and poultry disease outbreaks cost millions of dollars. Pathogens move on both people and vehicles, so the value of a robust vehicle track and trace system in managing outbreaks cannot be underestimated. Asset tracking devices are designed to provide real-time data on vehicle movements and this AAFC funded project is testing the efficacy of asset tracking devices in preventing disease spread and reducing costs.”

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The laboratory is another tangible step in the growing partnership between IANR and NSRI that brings together researchers from both institutes to increase research and development in:

• Agricultural and natural resources security, defense and countermeasures;
• Biological defense in support of the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and other government stakeholders;
• Development and deployment of biosurveillance, biodetection and diagnostic tools; and
• Pandemic preparedness related to human, livestock and crop plant diseases that could result in disruptions to the U.S. and global food systems.

“This new effort is a perfect marriage of key strengths and priorities of the entire University of Nebraska system: national security, preparedness, and agriculture and natural resources. The lab will be a pride point for our university and state. I’m thrilled that IANR and NSRI are collaborating in this way, and I’m excited to see the innovations that will result from this forward-thinking partnership,”

said NU President Ted Carter. 

The new laboratory also aligns with Nebraska’s commitment to bold, innovative and important research, said Chancellor Ronnie Green.

“No university is better positioned to lead with a new collaborative biosecurity laboratory. We have a long history of seeking bold solutions to complex problems, and our expertise in agricultural and defense-related innovation is exceptional,”

Green said.

The location of the lab, adjacent to other molecular life scientists, biomedical engineers and the Nebraska Center for Virology, provides opportunities for NSRI researchers, staff and program leaders to engage with faculty, students and staff throughout IANR and the university.

“Ensuring the safety of our food supply is a wickedly complex endeavor. A broad, collaborative approach drawing on disciplines including virology, biological systems engineering, chemistry and biochemistry, statistics, animal science, veterinary medicine, plant pathology, natural resources, food science and many others will be key to the success of this exciting collaboration,”

said Mike Boehm, NU vice president and Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR.

In addition to the lab, NSRI appointed 10 IANR researchers as NSRI Fellows in May 2021. One fellow is already contributing to the Nebraska Drug Discovery and Development Pipeline, a long-term project funded by the federal government through NSRI to develop drugs needed by warfighters. NSRI, the Department of Defense-designated University Affiliated Research Center of the University of Nebraska, and U.S. Strategic Command also recently leveraged IANR’s West Central Research and Extension Center to test unmanned aerial systems for a DOD sponsor.

“We are actively seeking opportunities to collaborate in a meaningful way with IANR. This lab demonstrates the foresight NU and NSRI can bring to the DOD — combining Nebraska’s tremendous strength and leadership in agriculture and biosecurity with NSRI’s deep understanding of the complexities of strategic deterrence across the threat spectrum and in multiple domains,”

said retired Maj. Gen. Rick Evans, NSRI executive director.

Joshua Santarpia, NSRI research director of chemical and biological programs and associate professor of microbiology and pathology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, leads the Collaborative Biosecurity Laboratory affirmed:

“This lab represents a host of new opportunities for both NSRI and IANR. Through this lab, and the collaboration that it represents, we can look at ways to leverage NSRI’s research into agricultural problems, bring new opportunities for IANR scientists to grow the research to support national security and build new programs in agricultural biosecurity together.”

Source: University of Nebraska 

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