This project will develop decision-making frameworks that serve to maintain and promote human and animal health, well-being, and performance in the face of climate change.
Project objectives
- The project will generate new knowledge on the effects of heat on human and animal health and on health risks from vector-borne diseases and mycotoxins from food consumption.
- The project takes a transdisciplinary approach, involving relevant stakeholders and researchers in an ongoing dialogue to jointly develop decision-making tools. In this way, instruments and tools are developed that are tailored to the needs of the relevant stakeholders.
Project content
- Current and future heat vulnerability of the population and the health care system in Switzerland. Decision bases for relevant actors will be developed to protect the population from heat.
- Investigate early signs of heat stress in swine and poultry and effective adaptation methods. Recommendations for farmers and stakeholders will be developed to help maintain and improve the health, welfare and performance of pigs and poultry in heat.
- Climatic and production conditions that pose an increased risk for fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination. A decision support tool is being developed.
- Assessment of current and future risks to humans and animals related to vector-borne diseases (VBD) in Switzerland, with a particular focus on infectious diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The information is used to develop prevention measures at the national and, if necessary, cantonal level.
Scientific results are communicatively prepared and made available with and for stakeholders.
Project partners
- EBP Schweiz AG (Andrea Bianchin)
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), Research group «Climate Change and Health», University of Bern (Ana M. Vicedo-Cabrera)
- Veterinary Public Health Institute (VPHI), University of Bern (Gertraud Schüpbach)
- Zentrum für tiergerechte Haltung, FSVO (Antonia Ruckli)
Further information
Last modification 20.11.2023
