WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump appointed John Bellinger as the senior advisor for New World screwworm (NWS) preparedness on June 8, following confirmation of NWS in Texas just days ago.
In this newly created role, Bellinger will integrate into the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) team to further drive efforts in combatting NWS through exploration of all available technologies.
“I want to thank John for joining our team as USDA transitions to the next phase of fighting and eradicating this pest from our borders, as we did nearly 60 years ago, yet it came back due to Biden’s failed open border policies,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “John’s roots in Texas where New World screwworm is at ground zero, and his private sector experience in the related food safety and cattle industries, will help the administration advance our response and protect US livestock.”
Bellinger currently serves on the Texas A&M Board of Regents as chair of the committee on research, a role he assumed after being appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023. As co-founder and former chief executive officer of Food Safety Net Services (FSNS), Bellinger now serves as a board member of the recently merged FSNS and the Certified Group. He is also the CEO of Agri-West International food exporter as well as Bellinger Development.
Bellinger is a member of the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture Development Council, as well as an adviser to the Animal Science Department. He remains a partner and board member of Nolan Ryan Beef, BK Beef, BC Stables, AW Japan, Just Pots and Livek.
Bellinger is a former chairman of the US Meat Export Federation and the Southwest Meat Association. In 2022, he was inducted into the US Meat Industry Hall of Fame.
Bellinger earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and master’s in animal science from Texas A&M University. He was the recipient of the 2007 Outstanding Alumnus for Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and the Outstanding Alumnus of Texas A&M University Animal Science Department in 2014.
“New World screwworm presents unique challenges to America’s ranchers, and Secretary Rollins has taken dramatic steps to work on building up our domestic response to this pest,” Bellinger said. “USDA is responding in real time and building up long term capabilities to push back New World screwworm beyond our borders and past the Darien Gap. I look forward to working with USDA and our state partners as continuing ramping up testing, detection and release of our tools to reduce these flies’ populations.”
NWS not only threatens the health of livestock and pets, buts also poses a danger to the human and pet food supply chain.
Read more about supply chain topics affecting the industry on our Operations page.
