The DECIDE project was proud to host the Animal Health Surveillance Cluster Event on 25 March 2025 in Berlin, Germany – a timely and strategic gathering held just ahead of the SVEPM Conference at the same venue. This networking event brought together representatives from several key EU-funded projects focused on animal disease surveillance and farm data sharing, aiming to foster deeper collaboration, exchange knowledge, and address shared challenges.
A Shared Mission Across EU Projects
Organised by Innovation for Agriculture with support from Utrecht University and accelopment, the event convened researchers from both EU and non-EU funded initiatives working in the field of animal health. Participating projects included EU-FarmBook, BIOSECURE, aWISH, TechCare, Digi4Live, Doorcas Africa, Complexity Science Club, each contributing valuable insights from their unique approaches to disease monitoring and data-driven innovation.
The event focused on two core themes:
Data access and re-use for animal disease surveillance tools
Data-driven tools and stakeholder needs
Expert-led discussions were facilitated by:
Dr Céline Faverjon (EpiMundi, France), leading the session on data re-use challenges and opportunities
Professor Jasmeet Kaler (University of Nottingham, UK), focusing on stakeholder needs in precision livestock informatics
Interactive Format and Deep Discussions
The event was structured to promote interactive engagement, including presentations from participating projects followed by breakout group discussions in the afternoon. These sessions explored Challenges and best practices in data re-use and how stakeholder needs can shape the development of surveillance tools.
Attendees were encouraged to share experiences, voice concerns, and propose solutions. Speakers also participated actively, providing practical insights and expert guidance throughout the discussions.
Key Outcomes and Messages
A clear outcome of the event was the shared recognition of both the opportunities and obstacles in developing effective, data-driven animal health surveillance systems. The event resulted in a valuable record of stakeholder feedback, best practices, and suggestions for future directions.
Some of the key takeaways included:
The need for increased funding to support the creation of reusable datasets
Better education for researchers on data management, ownership, and GDPR compliance
Promotion of an EU-wide dialogue on animal health data transparency
The importance of building trust among actors involved in data-driven tools and technologies
The value of early stakeholder engagement in the co-design of surveillance solutions
Looking Ahead
The Animal Health Surveillance Cluster Event underscored the importance of collaboration across projects and sectors to drive meaningful progress in animal disease surveillance. As the DECIDE project continues to innovate in this space, we remain committed to facilitating open dialogue, practical data sharing, and solutions designed with stakeholders at the centre.
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