New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has explored how the structure of Great Britain’s poultry industry influences its resilience to high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI). The study found that alongside farm-level biosecurity, wider factors including planning, infrastructure and financial risk also play an important role in the sector’s ability to prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks. The findings could help policymakers and the poultry industry strengthen disease preparedness while protecting one of the country’s most important food production sectors, which is particularly timely given the ongoing development of the UK’s Poultry Sector Growth Plan.
Approximately 1.1 billion birds are reared in Great Britain each year, mainly for meat, but also to produce around 12 billion eggs. Over the last four years, Great Britain has experienced its most severe outbreaks of HPAI, with commercial poultry and wild birds being repeatedly affected. Improving the resilience of the poultry industry has therefore become increasingly important for food production, animal and human health and the wider economy.
Researchers from the RVC and the University of Cambridge conducted a structural assessment of Great Britain’s poultry industry through the lens of avian influenza resilience. The study combined a review of scientific literature, policy documents and industry evidence; 19 interviews involving stakeholders from across the sector; farm visits; and stakeholder workshops.
The researchers found that planning decisions, including where poultry production is located and how this is balanced alongside environmental priorities and local communities, can influence disease resilience. They also identified financial risk as a significant challenge, with limited access to avian influenza insurance and existing compensation arrangements affecting how producers manage and recover from outbreaks.
Dr Mat Hennessey, Lecturer in Agribusiness at the RVC, said: “While the day-to-day activities which occur on and around farms are important in maintaining disease security, our study takes a step back to think about the long-term vision for a resilient poultry sector. 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.”