The Danish model for collaboration in pig health and food safety
Pig production is an area that many people have opinions about. Photos and footages showing diseased pigs provoke strong feelings, resulting in pressure on decision-makers. Although much can be done to prevent disease and other negative impacts, no pig raising system is perfect. The question is how to bridge consumer expectations with the reality of pig production? Because the consumers also want high-quality meat at affordable prices.
In Denmark, there is a tradition for collaboration between relevant parties in society. For animal health and food safety, this model implies that farmers and abattoirs and their organisations find solutions to the challenges together with the competent authority and with input from academia.
A qualitative analysis based on input from selected representatives of the mentioned parties has been made, revealing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to applying the model to animal health and food safety questions. The analysis points to that a continued use of the model requires further focus on the applied governance model. Moreover, all parties that are impacted by the activity under evaluation – e.g., pig production – should be represented.
Examples of using the Danish model for pig production will be given, and related activities in other countries will be discussed. It will be argued that in an export-oriented country like Denmark, the pig industry must engage more than ever before with society to identify feasible and sustainable solutions to the often-complex challenges. Collaboration is the only way forward to maintain license to operate.