AHDB’s ASF ‘Workshop in a box’ to support contingency planning
2nd Mar 2026 / By Alistair Driver
AHDB has created a ‘Workshop in a Box’ for anyone looking to run their own African swine fever (ASF) contingency planning workshop.
The initiative stems from a series of workshops, jointly run by AHDB, Livetec Systems and the NPA, that highlighted the need to prepare for an outbreak of ASF, while also taking pre-emptive action to prevent one.
After successful pilots in October 2024 and January 2025, a further 12 workshops took place across England, from Thirsk in the north to Dorchester in the south, between June 2025 and January 2026. The AHDB-funded workshops involved nine veterinary practices, the British Pig Association, and were attended by more than 140 producers and field staff.
AHDB explained that the ‘Workshop in a Box’ aims to ‘build producer confidence and ensure a swift, coordinated response in the event of an outbreak’.
It includes:
- A how-to guide for preparing for and setting up a workshop
- A deck of slides with comprehensive notes providing background information about ASF
- A recording of AHDB and Livetec delivering the presentations – use this to help you prepare for your workshop
- A frequently asked questions (FAQ) document
- A glossary of relevant acronyms
- A copy of the NPA–AHDB contingency planning template
- A link to the Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee (FAnGR) guidelines on developing a contingency plan for breeds at risk
- A how-to guide for creating aerial maps of individual units
- A how-to guide for creating anonymous questionnaires for in-session feedback
- Map keys (legends) for marking up unit maps
- Example marked-up maps for fictional indoor and outdoor units
- Signposting to other useful links and resources
You can find out more about the pack here or email pig.health@ahdb.org.uk to request one.
