At one of the UK’s leading livestock events, VAX4ASF partners showcased ongoing research into African swine fever, fostering dialogue between scientists, farmers, and industry stakeholders.
Researchers from The Pirbright Institute, partners in the European VAX4ASF project, joined thousands of industry professionals at the British Pig & Poultry Fair in mid-May to discuss one of the greatest current challenges facing animal health: African swine fever (ASF).
Held in Birmingham, the British Pig & Poultry Fair is one of the UK’s leading events for the pig and poultry sectors, bringing together producers, researchers, veterinarians, policymakers and technology providers. This year’s edition welcomed more than 8,400 visitors and 330 exhibitors, with disease prevention, biosecurity and innovation among the central themes of discussion.
Representing VAX4ASF at the event were Dr Ana Reis and Dr Chris Netherton from The Pirbright Institute, who engaged directly with farmers and industry stakeholders to explain the complexity of ASF and the urgent need for safe and effective vaccines.
Bringing science closer to farmers
For many researchers, opportunities to speak directly with livestock producers are rare but extremely valuable. Events such as the British Pig & Poultry Fair help bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical farming realities, allowing scientists and farmers to exchange knowledge and concerns face to face.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Ana Reis highlighted the importance of these conversations: “The event was really interesting, and we had the opportunity to engage with farmers, which we don’t do very often”.
These interactions are especially important when discussing ASF, a disease that continues to threaten pig farming globally. While ASF does not affect humans, it has devastating consequences for pigs and wild boar populations, causing severe economic losses and major disruption across the pork supply chain.
The UK currently remains free from ASF, but experts continue to warn that the disease represents a serious risk to the European pig sector. Maintaining awareness and strengthening preparedness are therefore essential.
Explaining the complexity of African Swine Fever Virus
One of the highlights of the VAX4ASF presence at the Fair was a 3D model of the African swine fever virus (ASFV), used by the Pirbright team to explain why developing a vaccine against the disease is such a scientific challenge. The model attracted strong interest from visitors and provided an accessible way to visualise the virus’s unusually complex structure.
Unlike many viruses for which vaccines already exist, ASFV has a very large and complicated genome, containing more than 150 genes. Scientists are still working to fully understand how the virus interacts with the immune system and how it manages to evade natural immune responses in infected animals.
This complexity is one of the main reasons why, despite decades of international research, there is still no widely available commercial vaccine against ASF.
The VAX4ASF project aims to change this situation by developing a new generation of innovative vaccine technologies designed to provide strong protection while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Innovation and collaboration at the centre of the fair
The British Pig & Poultry Fair 2026 focused strongly on how collaboration and innovation can help livestock sectors face future challenges more effectively.
According to Fair organiser Alice Bell, cooperation across the industry is essential:
“Bringing together science-backed technology and advice with open discussions and supply chain collaboration is guaranteed to yield the best results for producers. Together, we are most definitely stronger”.
This message closely reflects the philosophy behind VAX4ASF itself. The project brings together 17 partners from Europe and Africa, combining expertise in virology, immunology, epidemiology, vaccine development, diagnostics, animal production and stakeholder engagement.
By combining scientific research with practical sector engagement, VAX4ASF aims to contribute not only to vaccine development, but also to broader preparedness and disease management strategies.