At the Healthy Trade Institute, we’re all about helping businesses make sure their pet and wildlife trade is healthy for everyone involved – the animals, the environment, and even us humans. But rest assured it’s not just wishful thinking; our certification program is built on solid science.
To truly fix the reptile and amphibian trade, we first had to get our heads around the messy bits: how diseases spread, and how all of us – from hobbyists to big businesses – fit into the picture. That’s precisely why science is at the heart of everything we do.
The Research That Got Us Started
Our HTI journey kicked off because fungal pathogens like Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) were threatening frogs and salamanders. This led to some trade bans, which made it clear we needed better solutions within the industry. So, some well-known groups (Pet Advocacy Network, Reptiles by Mack, and Josh’s Frogs, to name a few) reached out to Dr. Matt Gray, who just so happens to be a top-tier professor at the University of Tennessee.
Dr. Gray’s early research — supported by a grant from the University of Tennessee — gave us the undeniable proof we needed. His 2023 studies revealed that American businesses and customers strongly supported a program to certify healthy animals. This told us what we suspected all along: people are willing to pay more for disease-free animals, and businesses want to sell healthy stock. That’s what really got the ball rolling for HTI.
Our Incredible Research Team
The quality of our standards directly comes from the quality of our research partners. Dr. Gray is the lead investigator of a huge study, backed by a $2.75 million grant, that looks at how diseases move through the live animal trade. And get this: it’s backed by some seriously big hitters – including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. No small potatoes here.
His study also ropes in a stellar squad of academic institutions:
- Washington State University (WSU)
- Michigan State University
- University of Massachusetts
- Rutgers University
These brilliant minds are basically CSI for pathogens, digging into every tangled connection between biology, society, and economics that influences how diseases move. Their mission? To craft policies that not only keep our wild neighbors safe but also help prevent future global health headaches linked to the animal trade. Talk about saving the world – one herp at a time!
How HTI Certification Works
Now, this is where all that research comes to life! What Dr. Gray and his team discover directly shapes our HTI Certification Program. This means the rules we set aren’t some arbitrary list conjured over coffee – they’re built on a rock-solid, science-backed foundation.
We initially focused on amphibians – you know, crawl before you run. But our program is cleverly expanding to include reptiles in 2025. This slow-and-steady expansion is, of course, a strategic move. It ensures our scientific standards can be smoothly applied across all the different corners of the herp trade. Because we believe that when you set your heart on something, you’ve got to do it right!
A Future Built on Facts
At the end of the day, the HTI is locked and loaded for a future where commerce and conservation aren’t battling it out, but actually thriving side-by-side. By teaming up with leading scientists and wielding robust research like a trusty lab coat, we can guarantee that our healthy trade practices are effective, sustainable, and genuinely make a difference. (Check, check, check!) Swing by our website to dive deeper into our mission, and if you’re feeling generous, a donation would be fantastic. Every bit helps us build a healthier, safer world for our scaly and slimy friends!