Intensive farming could raise risk of new pandemics, researchers warn

JULY 16, 2024

Editors' notes

by University of Exeter


Industrialized farming is often thought to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases (those transmitted from animals to humans) because of better control, biosecurity and separation of livestock.

A study, led by the University of Exeter, examines the effect of social and economic factors—which are often overlooked in traditional assessments. The paper, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, is titled "Understanding the roles of economy and society in the relative risks of zoonosis emergence from livestock."

It finds that the effects of intensifying agriculture "are at best uncertain and at worst may contribute to EID (emerging infectious disease) risk."

Lead author Professor Steve Hinchliffe, from the University of Exeter, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic reignited interest in EIDs, especially zoonotic viruses.

More:
https://phys.org/news/2024-07-intensive-farming-pandemics.html