How Better Animal Health Could Slash Emissions and Save Millions in Food Waste

Better animal health could tackle three major challenges at once: cutting emissions, saving food, and improving efficiency. Yet despite its potential, this solution remains overlooked in Europe's climate and food policies. Experts argue that simple measures—like higher vaccination rates—could bring significant gains without drastic changes to farming or consumer habits.

A 20% rise in vaccination coverage among German pigs would prevent the loss of over 65 million servings of pork. It would also cut feed waste by 21.9 million kilograms, reducing both costs and environmental strain. Similarly, in France, boosting poultry vaccinations against avian influenza could slash losses by a third, saving €5.5 million in production expenses.

In the UK, eradicating foot-and-mouth disease from dairy herds could lower emissions by 1.11% per litre of milk. Healthier livestock directly mean fewer greenhouse gases, less wasted food, and more efficient use of resources. But despite these benefits, vaccination and preventive care remain underused across Europe.

Barriers include low awareness, weak policy incentives, unclear financial returns, and trade concerns. Compounding the issue, global climate funding in 2023 allocated nothing to animal health in agriculture. Major trackers like the OECD and CPI reports did not even list it as a funding category.

Animal health stands as a practical yet neglected tool for climate action and food security. With no need for radical shifts in production or consumer behaviour, higher vaccination rates and preventive care could deliver measurable results. The challenge now lies in raising awareness and securing policy support to unlock these benefits.