A new research project led by the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM) at the University of Oslo, in collaboration with the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), will explore how serious diseases like Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever are managed in Norway’s meat production. These diseases can lead to economic losses and pose risks to animal, ecosystem and public health, but we currently know little about how relevant industry actors and breeding companies respond to the challenges.

Investigating infectious diseases in Norwegian agriculture

The project, Governance for sustainable food systems: Implementing the One Health approach in the Norwegian meat industry (MEATPOWER), will focus on how Norway’s meat industry can navigate health, environmental, and legal frameworks that influence responses to disease outbreaks.

Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever are pressing issues in Norway and globally, and there is a need to better understand how relevant industry actors respond to the measures and regulatory frameworks aimed at addressing these threats. 

‘Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever could have serious consequences for Norwegian meat production and wildlife, and in a worst-case scenario lead to new pandemics. We need to traverse the policy silos of environment, food, and health to gain insight in more effective ways to prevent and manage potential outbreaks,’ says Research Professor Kristin Rosendal at FNI.

They will study intersections between public regulations of the pork and poultry breeding industries and supply chains on the one hand, and animal and human health and the environment on the other. 'While there is extensive knowledge about how infectious diseases spread and emerge, and awareness of their close connections to food production, the measures to address this challenge are often fragmented. These efforts require better coordination across various policy fields, such as health, agriculture, and environmental management', she adds.

The project will investigate the concept of One Health through a critical lens. One Health is an interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environment health, and their mutual influence on each other.  The summer of 2023, avian flu caused the largest number of deaths recorded in seabird populations in Finnmark.

Breeding strategies and disease management

A key focus of the MEATPOWER project is to examine how multinational breeding corporations develop breeding strategies in response to evolving health and environmental regulations aimed at diseases like Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever. FNI researchers will be responsible for this part of the project.

Breeding programs involve selecting specific genetic traits, such as fast growth or high egg production, and will usually involve selection for disease resistance. For wild and domesticated plants and animals alike, breeding with limited genetic diversity makes organisms more vulnerable to infectious diseases, while greater diversity can help them better resist diseases,’ Rosendal explains.

‘Breeding programs constitute the basis for the food production chain, but as also known from aquaculture, there is often scarce public knowledge about corporate breeding strategies. We need to better understand how breeding companies navigate regulations and what strategies they use to balance production efficiency with genetic diversity and animal health,’ she adds.

Collaborative efforts to understand the challenges

The MEATPOWER project brings together ecologists, political scientists, and geographers from SUM, FNI, and NINA, along with representatives from the meat industry and environmental organizations.

The project will collaborate with Skogselskapet, Norskog, Norsk Kylling, and Nortura to gather knowledge on how disease outbreaks are managed. Additionally, artist and photographer Yamile Calderón will have an important role in the project.