PLANNING constraints, concentrated infrastructure and limited access to insurance are among the wider challenges affecting Great Britain’s ability to protect poultry production from avian influenza, according to new research.
The Royal Veterinary College study found that resilience to high pathogenicity avian influenza cannot be addressed through farm-level biosecurity alone.
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Researchers said decisions about the location of poultry developments, the availability of processing infrastructure and producers’ exposure to financial risk all influence the industry’s ability to prepare for and recover from outbreaks.
The findings come as the government and industry continue work on the UK’s Poultry Sector Growth Plan.
Around 1.1 billion birds are reared in Great Britain each year, primarily for meat production, while the sector also produces approximately 12 billion eggs.
However, repeated outbreaks of HPAI in commercial poultry and wild birds over the past four years have increased pressure on farms and supply chains.
Planning and financial risk
Researchers from the RVC and the University of Cambridge assessed the structure of Great Britain’s poultry industry through the lens of avian influenza resilience.
The work included a review of scientific literature, policy documents and industry evidence, as well as farm visits, stakeholder workshops and 19 interviews with people from across the sector.
Production and distribution networks were mapped to identify how different parts of the industry interact and where vulnerabilities could emerge.
Two of the most significant challenges identified related to planning and insurance.
The location of poultry production, and how new developments are balanced against environmental priorities and concerns within local communities, can affect the industry’s capacity to manage disease.
Researchers also highlighted limited access to avian influenza insurance and the effect of existing compensation arrangements on producers’ ability to manage financial risk and recover following an outbreak.
Dr Mat Hennessey, lecturer in agribusiness at the RVC, said day-to-day activity on and around farms remained important for maintaining disease security.
“However, our study takes a step back to think about the long-term vision for a resilient poultry sector,” he said.
“Our structural analysis identifies key challenges around planning where poultry production could occur and how producers are able to insure themselves against the ongoing threat of avian influenza.”
Different risks across poultry sectors
The research also found that poultrymeat, egg and gamebird production each face distinct operational challenges and disease risks.
The concentration of poultry farms, processing plants and other infrastructure can also influence how disease risk is managed throughout the supply chain.
Paniz Hosseini, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine, said greater coordination would be required around planning and infrastructure.
“While messaging on strong biosecurity practices remains incredibly important and effective, biosecurity alone, without the macro-level coordination highlighted in this paper, may not be sufficient to enhance disease preparedness and prevention in the future,” she said.
The researchers said their production and distribution maps could now be used by policymakers and the industry to inform planning and disease preparedness.
The study was completed through the FluTrailMap project, a multidisciplinary programme led by the Pirbright Institute and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Defra. Read the full paper.
