In Catalonia, the dense concentration of pig farms and the constant flow of vehicles and people between them have triggered the spread of diseases within the sector. This situation is aggravated by the increase in livestock imports, posing an additional risk to local food safety.
According to European animal welfare regulations, livestock movements within the community must include mandatory stops every 24 hours, which, paradoxically, increases the risk of contagion at these stopping points.
The increase in the movement of imported animals entails a greater risk of introducing new pathogens or strains not previously detected in the country. In this context, biosecurity emerges as an essential pillar to prevent the entry and spread of diseases in swine farms, being a crucial tool to maintain and improve the overall health of the sector.
There is a clear need to prioritize the disinfection of truck traffic between farms, since lack of attention to this aspect favors the transmission of diseases between facilities. Therefore, the development of an intelligent the development of an intelligent tool to effectively disinfect the farm environment is urgently required. This approach will reduce the viral and bacterial load in the air that housed animals breathe, thus strengthening their immune system and increasing their chances of resisting diseases.
The main objective of the project is to carry out a feasibility study to assess whether an autonomous environmental fogging prototype can reduce the content of pathogens in suspension and improve the animal health of pig farms and animal welfare.
For the prototype to be autonomous, it will be necessary to consider the use of sensors that allow us to predict the onset of a disease. The possibilities proposed are sensors that detect a decrease in movement or an increase in body temperature. Also, the installation of a flow meter that detects the decrease in water consumption could indicate a viral or bacterial process. This will allow massive data collection and data processing.
With the support of:
TOTAL BUDGET: 75.356,31€.
AMOUNT OF THE AID: 52.749,42€.
With the participation of: GSP-GIRONA, 333 CORPORATE SL, INNOVAC AND PORINOX SL.
Projects with funding from ACCIÓ - IRC Projects "Development and Innovation" 2022
