Animal health investment pleases UK poultry industry

Major sectors of the UK economy and food chain, including the poultry industry, have received a significant boost following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of £80M of capital investment for the further development of research facilities at the Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright.

The funding will be made available to Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and, with additional support from BBSRC’s own capital budget, will allow the construction of the £100M+ second phase of the development of the IAH campus at Pirbright. This phase will include the development of new high containment laboratories, experimental facilities and supporting infrastructure for studying avian and other animal diseases and to support the development of new vaccines and tests. This will lead to a third innovation development phase for the campus.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: “The UK is a world leader in research into animal diseases, underpinned by the excellent work of BBSRC and the Institute for Animal Health. This significant investment in Pirbright will drive growth, create highly-skilled jobs and improve our understanding of diseases that can have devastating effects on our rural economy, including avian flu. Not only is this vital for our agricultural industry but it also helps ensure future global food security.” BBSRC and IAH have been joined in welcoming the announcement by the UK farming and agricultural community.

UK poultry sector
The UK poultry sector is worth around £8bn to the national economy and employs over 35,000. The global poultry sector is worth over £85bn a year and with strong growth in Asia represents a significant potential export market for the UK.

Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive, said: “The new facilities for studying avian and other diseases will help to protect huge sectors in the UK economy and protect hundreds of thousands of jobs that would be at risk during an animal disease outbreak.

Professor John Fazakerley, IAH Director, said: ” The new facilities in this next phase of development are urgently required to underpin UK and EU capability in research on virus infections of poultry and livestock. They will provide a single site that has a variety of bio-containment level working environments. “In support of the UK’s valuable poultry industry, we can with this investment build on previous research and innovation successes such as vaccines against coccidiosis and Marek’s disease and the elimination of avian leukosis virus from poultry breeding stock. We will be able to expand our research into these and other important diseases of poultry and diseases that can spread from poultry to humans including influenza virus. In addition, we will extend our well-established role as a centre of excellence and partner of choice and offer opportunities for training and development to colleagues across the world.”

Significant economic threats
Poultry disease such as Marek’s disease and Infectious Bronchitis Virus disease pose major threats to the UK and global poultry sectors. These represent significant economic threats to the UK but also to national food security. An uncontrolled outbreak of Marek’s in the UK could destroy 90% of the country’s poultry industry. According to estimates, a serious outbreak of avian influenza would cost the UK around 5% of GDP, or £68bn.

IAH scientists were the first to develop an effective vaccine against Marek’s disease, which now have a global market of £2bn. The new facilities funded today will ensure that IAH can lead the UK’s fight to protect food security and the rural economy.

Peter Bradnock, Chief Executive of the British Poultry Council, said: “The British Poultry Council welcomes this funding for developing the work of IAH at Pirbright. In particular, the science behind new vaccines against certain poultry infections will underpin sustainable growth of the poultry production to the benefit of society, the environment, and of the birds themselves. We are pleased to see this commitment to science by the Government.”

Vital research
“The Chancellor’s support for what he terms ‘a world leading animal health laboratory’ is very welcome news at any time and particularly in the current economic climate.” said Roy Mutimer, general manager of Cobb Europe. “The Institute for Animal Health has led vital research into a number of the world’s most significant poultry diseases, helping the UK to maintain its high health record. This is a valuable asset to us as a poultry breeding company exporting to the global market, and it reassuring to have this commitment from the Government to continue investing in helping the UK maintain this enviable status in the face of inevitable new challenges.”

The avian research facilities and medium containment laboratories will now enter detailed design and planning work. IAH will work closely with the local authority and with communities local to the Pirbright site. The new facilities will become operational in 2016.

Source: Institute for Animal Health