May 2023 – Page 2 – Swine in Minnesota

Wait and see? Biosecurity decision-making under disease risk – Part 1

This short science page offers insights on decision making where a wait-and-see attitude induces a delay in biosecurity investments and implementation, which creates instability and uncertainty in the industry’s ability and capacity to control disease. Written by Gabriela Bucini, Scott C. Merrill, Eric M. Clark, and Julie M. Smith of the Social Ecological Gaming and Simulation Lab, University of Vermont.

Agriculture and human health: Taking a One Health perspective

Researchers from CVM and the School of Public Health recently conducted a reanalysis of data from a 2018 study that reported communities living near hog farms in North Carolina have increased negative health outcomes. The reanalysis uncovered fundamental inadequacies in the original study approach, which had a significant impact on swine producers resulting from negative media and lawsuits. In their published findings, the researchers who conducted the reanalysis emphasized the need for better-designed epidemiological studies and the responsible interpretation of data. They also called for a One Health approach that brings together relevant government, industry, and community representatives to solve the challenges of maximizing animal, human, and environmental health while supporting sustainable agriculture that meets the nation’s food-production needs.