The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is challenging small businesses to develop a computer model that will help determine which vaccination strain would be most successful at preventing and controlling foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in livestock.

Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, government departments are inviting small businesses to propose a new innovative solution that addresses a specific challenge they face.

Successful small businesses may receive up to $150,000 to refine their research and development and could, if accepted into phase 2, receive up to $1 million to develop a working prototype.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe viral disease of cattle, sheep and swine that poses a serious threat to the agricultural sector due to its highly contagious nature.