Economic Perspectives on Farm Biosecurity: Stakeholder Challenges and Livestock Species Considerations

Blerta Mehmedi, Anna Maria Iatrou, Ramazan Yildiz, Kate Lamont, Maria Rodrigues da Costa, Marco De Nardi, Alberto Allepuz, Tarmo Niine, Jarkko K. Niemi and Claude Saegerman ()
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Blerta Mehmedi: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
Anna Maria Iatrou: School of Agriculture Sciences, Department of Agriculture, University of Western Macedonia, 53100 Florina, Greece
Ramazan Yildiz: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, 15300 Burdur, Türkiye
Kate Lamont: Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health (CEPH), Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK
Maria Rodrigues da Costa: Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health (CEPH), Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Inverness Campus, Inverness IV2 5NA, UK
Marco De Nardi: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
Alberto Allepuz: Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Tarmo Niine: Chair of Veterinary Biomedicine and Food Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Jarkko K. Niemi: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Kampusranta 9, 60320 Seinäjoki, Finland
Claude Saegerman: Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Science (UREAR), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-21

Abstract: Livestock farm biosecurity is crucial for animal health and economic sustainability, however uneven adoption/implementation across diverse livestock species and production systems persists. To improve uptake of biosecurity, it is necessary to identify critical economic behavioural, and systematic barriers, and to outline practical drivers. Perceived high costs, labour/time burdens, and uncertain benefits can suppress private investment, while poorly designed indemnities can create moral hazard. Conversely, targeted subsidies, risk-based insurance, and market standards (e.g., certification and procurement) can incentivise implementation. Knowledge and trust gaps, especially in smallholder and backyard settings, further limit compliance. Participatory, and context-specific training led by field veterinarians consistently outperforms top–down messaging, with effective element including: simple, low-cost “easy wins”, tiered checklists, and decision-support tools to help embed routines and demonstrate the value of biosecurity. Integrating clear cost–benefit evidence, incentive-based tools, and co-designed training can transform biosecurity from a perceived practical and cost burden into a resilient, profitable practice that delivers public-good benefits for animal health, trade, and One Health across Europe and beyond.

Keywords: biosecurity practices; financial motivation; cost–benefit evaluation; risk-based schemes; stakeholder education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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