Research Starts with Producer Priorities
Producers have already identified the swine health challenges that require collective action. The next task is ensuring research investments, expertise and projects are focused on those priorities rather than fragmented across the industry.
That was the focus of the National Swine Health Strategy Research Summit, hosted by the National Pork Board. Researchers, funding organizations and industry leaders examined where work is underway, where gaps remain and where collaboration could accelerate practical solutions.
“We haven’t brought this group of researchers, funding organizations and industry leaders together in this way before,” said Dr. Marisa Rotolo, director of swine health at NPB. “It was important to ground the conversation in the National Swine Health Strategy, so everyone started from the same place: the priorities producers have identified for our industry.”
Identifying Research Opportunities
During breakout discussions, summit participants identified research opportunities to guide future collaboration and investment across the National Swine Health Strategy (NSHS) priorities.
While the discussions produced dozens of ideas, several opportunities consistently rose to the top:
- Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) elimination: Better vaccines and diagnostics, improved biosecurity practices and a stronger understanding of the economics of elimination.
- Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) elimination: Research to better understand how the virus evolves and interacts with pigs, along with tools to decrease viral shedding, strengthen herd elimination methods and address regional spread.
- Reducing disease spread: Practical biosecurity solutions, improved transportation sanitation and stronger adoption of proven on-farm practices.
- Foreign and emerging diseases: Enhanced surveillance, better traceability, preparedness planning and tools that support rapid response.
The Importance of Industry Collaboration
🎙️ Hear from Dr. Marisa Rotolo about how working with industry partners helps advance efforts on behalf of pork producers.
Making Every Research Investment Count
A shared view of ongoing research can help funding organizations avoid duplication, close important knowledge gaps and direct more resources toward practical solutions for producers.
The summit helped participating organizations:
- Align research with producer priorities identified through the NSHS.
- Better understand where research is already underway.
- Identify knowledge gaps that still need attention.
- Explore opportunities to collaborate and reduce duplication.
- Keep practical, on-farm outcomes at the center of future work.
With a better understanding of current research and remaining gaps, organizations can build on one another’s work and focus investments where they can provide the greatest value to producers and the broader swine industry.
Looking Ahead
The Research Summit was an important step in putting the NSHS into action by connecting producer priorities with the research and resources needed to address them.
The opportunities identified at the summit can help researchers, funding organizations and industry partners make more informed decisions about where to focus future work and where collaboration can have the greatest impact.
Ultimately, the goal is not simply more research. It is research that builds on existing knowledge, addresses the gaps that matter most and delivers practical tools and information producers can use to protect swine health.
