Animal disease outbreaks are placing increasing pressure on Europe’s livestock sector, threatening food security, farm livelihoods, animal welfare, and rural communities. As disease risks continue to grow, prevention has become more important than ever. The recently published EU Livestock Strategy talks about ensuring adequate financing for the prevention, surveillance, control and eradication of animal diseases, encouraging the adoption of digital technologies to improve animal health and welfare, supporting a wider and science-based use of preventive vaccination.

This Irish Presidency associated event will consider the EU Livestock Strategy and explore how farmers can be better equipped with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to strengthen biosecurity, improve disease surveillance, and adopt preventive animal health practices that reduce the likelihood and impact of future disease outbreaks.

Bringing together farmers, veterinarians, policymakers, researchers, and animal health experts, our event will highlight practical solutions and innovative approaches that can help build more resilient farming systems and ensure timely preparedness across the food chain. Discussions will focus on the role of vaccination, veterinary advice and targeted investment in preventive measures, and will examine how more joined up agricultural and animal health policies can support farmers in managing emerging disease threats more effectively.

Programme

Opening address: Irish Presidency representative

How to better equip farmers for disease prevention:

• What does the animal health toolbox have to offer? – Joe Harvey, animal health sector business journalist
• How can vets support farmers with preventive health advice? – Nancy de Briyne, Executive Director FVE
• How does EU policy support farmers with disease prevention measures? – DG AGRI (speaker TBC)

Building on the momentum of the EU Livestock Strategy: prioritising prevention
A panel discussion involving vets, farmers, policy makers and the animal health industry