In the heart of Italy, a silent battle is being waged against a formidable foe: African Swine Fever (ASF). This highly contagious and often fatal disease has historically been confined to the island of Sardinia, but in January 2022, it made a startling appearance on the Italian mainland. The stakes are high, not just for the pork industry, but for the broader agricultural and energy sectors that rely on a stable food supply chain.
The “Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie” (IZSVe), a leading veterinary research institute, has stepped up to the challenge. Led by Giacomo Nalesso, the institute’s Epidemiology department has developed a sophisticated, coordinated strategy to handle and control the outbreak. Nalesso, whose affiliation details are not widely known, has been at the forefront of this innovative approach.
At the core of IZSVe’s strategy are two powerful tools: Business Intelligence (BI) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These technologies are not new, but their application in this context is groundbreaking. “We’ve integrated data from farms, processing centers, and slaughterhouses with laboratory information and geospatial data,” Nalesso explains. “This comprehensive data warehouse allows us to track the outbreak in real-time and make data-driven decisions.”
The “African Swine Fever Manager” (ASF-Manager) is one of the key tools developed by the team. It tracks the specifics of each outbreak, providing detailed information on affected areas, animal demographics, and premises characteristics. But perhaps the most impressive tool is the “IZSVe GIS African Swine Fever” (IZSVeGIS-ASF). This GIS tool offers real-time monitoring and support for control measures, facilitating spatial analysis and filtering of data.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the pork industry. The energy sector, which relies on a stable food supply chain, could also benefit from these technologies. For instance, the ability to predict and control disease outbreaks could help maintain a steady supply of biofuels, which are often derived from agricultural products.
Moreover, the use of BI and GIS in this context could pave the way for similar applications in other industries. For example, these technologies could be used to monitor and control outbreaks of other diseases, or even to track and manage other types of environmental or industrial risks.
The research, published in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, which translates to the Journal of Systems, Cybernetics, and Informatics, is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. It’s a reminder that in the face of complex challenges, innovative solutions often lie at the intersection of different fields.
As the battle against ASF continues, one thing is clear: the future of disease control lies in the integration of advanced technologies and data-driven decision-making. And with pioneers like Nalesso and the IZSVe leading the way, the outlook is promising. The energy sector, and indeed all sectors that rely on a stable agricultural system, would do well to take note and adapt these strategies to their own contingency plans. After all, in an interconnected world, the health of one industry is the health of us all.
