Healthy animals without borders
Disease control policies are made by the EU, but until now the animal health research that informs these policies have been largely uncoordinated between countries. Now, much progress has been made in bridging these divides thanks to the EU-funded ʹCoordination of European research on emerging and major infectious diseases of livestockʹ (EMIDA) initiative. EMIDA has successfully brought together many countries in the region, including certain ministries of health, agriculture and education. With so many diverse partners, the project has ensured funding across the research spectrum, from basic to strategic to applied science. The research covers the health of production animals, fish and bees, as well as animal conditions that threaten human health. A website and four animal health research databases have been created for stakeholders to share information. In addition, the project ran two successful transnational research calls that resulted in over EUR 40 million worth of research. The project has now been completed, but it has left the industry with a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) that addresses the predicted research needs for the next 10–15 years. This will also ensure that the animal health research networks that have been established are sustained in the long term.
