The Final World Technology Transfer Workshop of the VACDIVA project took place on December 12th, 2024, in Brussels at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The event brought together leading scientists, policymakers, international organizations, and representatives of the livestock sector to discuss and showcase the groundbreaking advancements achieved in the fight against African Swine Fever (ASF).
HIGH LEVEL PARTICIPATION
The workshop featured active participation from key stakeholders, including:
- European Commission DG Agri, DG Santé, and DG Research
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
- WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health)
- Via Campesina and Copa-Cogeca, representing farmers and agricultural cooperatives
The workshop was officially opened and closed by the VACDIVA Project Coordinator José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno, who delivered the key conclusions of the day and and thanked all participants for their active contributions and engagement.
Their contributions underscored the critical alignment between science, policy, and the livestock sector, highlighting the urgent need for innovative ASF control measures to safeguard rural economies, businesses, and food security.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WORKSHOP
- ASF Research Initiatives in the EU
Jean-Charles Cavitte (European Commission) highlighted the European Commission's strong support for ASF research through EU-funded projects, including VACDIVA under Horizon 2020 and other initiatives funded through Horizon Europe. He emphasized the role of these programs in advancing tools for ASF control strategies and introduced the co-funded European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare as a key framework for tackling challenges in animal health.
- Global ASF Perspective
Gregorio Torres (WOAH) provided an update on the global ASF situation, stressing the need for innovative solutions, including vaccines and diagnostic tools, to achieve effective and sustainable ASF control worldwide.
- Vaccine Candidates and In Vivo Results
- José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno (UCM,) Zoltán Zádori (VMRI) , Marisa Arias (INIA-CISA) presented the successful development of live attenuated ASF vaccine candidates, which demonstrated ≥80% protection in wild boar and domestic pigs after one vaccination, with minimal side effects and a negligible level of shedding.
- Jaime Bosch (UCM) detailed progress on oral bait vaccination strategies for wild boar, highlighting successful field trials in Spain using bait without a vaccine candidate. In addition, several new epidemiological were showcased, including the ASF Risk and Vaccination Assessment Platform, and innovative online tool designed to optimize, was introduced to optimize ASF surveillance and vaccination strategies. This platform generated significant interest among international organizations for its potential to improve field implementation and monitoring.
- Companion DIVA Tests and Production Readiness
- Patricia Sastre (GSD Madrid) and Jovita Fernández Pinero (INIA-CISA) showcased validated DIVA diagnostic tools, developed within the VACDIVA project, including ELISA and PCR assays, essential for differentiating between infected animals and those vaccinated with the project’s vaccine candidate.
- Erwin van den Born (MSD Animal Health) and Paloma Rueda (GSD Madrid) emphasized that both companies are in principle ready to produce the ASF vaccine and DIVA diagnostics at large scale once regulatory approvals are in place.
- Patents and Key Challenges
The VACDIVA project successfully developed: - 1 patent for ASF vaccines (PCT/EP2023/082518).
- 1 patent for DIVA diagnostic tests (PCT/EP2023/082521).
Two additional patent applications are currently in preparation.
However, barriers to commercialization of a modified live ASF vaccine and companion diagnostic tests were discussed, including:
- Regulatory hurdles, particularly for genetically modified organisms (GMO).
- Costs and administrative burden related to performing animal trials in BSL3 facilities and the fact that ASFV is a dual-use agent.
- The lack of harmonized approval frameworks for diagnostics kits.
- Trade restrictions affecting market entry and acceptance of an ASF vaccine.
THE CALL FOR CONTINUED RESEARCH AND SUPPORT
During the discussions, representatives from farmer organizations, such as Via Campesina and Copa-Cogeca, highlighted the urgent need to build on the promising results achieved by the VACDIVA project. Given the successful development of two vaccine candidates and DIVA diagnostic tools, participants emphasized the importance of securing additional funding to ensure this progress can be further refined, validated, and scaled up through future initiatives.
While the current VACDIVA project concludes on December 31st, 2024, stakeholders stressed that its achievements must not be left unfinished. African Swine Fever (ASF) remains a critical threat to rural economies and livelihoods, and continued support for future research is essential to translate these results into real-world solutions for ASF control.
The workshop concluded with a summary of the key findings and next steps delivered by the VACDIVA Project Coordinator José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno, reinforcing the importance of continued collaboration between science, policy, and the livestock sector to bring ASF vaccines and tools to market.
THE IMPACT OF ASF
The devastating effects of ASF have been well-documented, with outbreaks causing severe economic losses, disrupting rural communities, and jeopardizing food security. The ASF Risk and Vaccination Assessment Platform offers new opportunities to optimize ASF surveillance and prevention in the field, ensuring faster responses and improved monitoring.
CONCLUSIONS
The VACDIVA project has achieved groundbreaking results that bring us closer to a world free of African Swine Fever, one of the most devastating animal diseases globally.
Key highlights include:
- Development of safe and effective ASF vaccines, offering ≥80% protection in domestic pigs and wild boar after one vaccination. These vaccines represent a transformative solution to one of the greatest challenges in global livestock health.
- Validation of companion DIVA diagnostic tools that differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals, ensuring effective disease control while maintaining trade opportunities.
- Four key patents (two currently filed and two in preparation) secure the project's innovative breakthroughs, covering three pilot vaccines and DIVA diagnostic tools. These prototypes represent a significant step forward but still require further testing, regulatory approvals, and pilot studies to pave the way for commercialization and large-scale production.
- Introduction of the ASF Risk and Vaccination Assessment Platform, an innovative tool to optimize ASF surveillance and vaccination strategies, delivering real-time field solutions.
- Identification of critical regulatory and administrative barriers that must be addressed to bring these solutions to market efficiently.
The socio-economic impact of ASF cannot be overstated: it threatens food security, rural economies, and thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on pig farming. VACDIVA has demonstrated that through collaborative research, innovation, and commitment, we can develop tools to stop ASF, protect rural communities, and safeguard global food systems.
The results presented during the Final World Technology Transfer Workshop confirm that the tools and vaccines developed are ready to move forward with the necessary support from policymakers, industry, and stakeholders. Continued investment in these technologies is essential to prevent ASF from causing further devastation and to turn this scientific success into a practical, global solution.
Date
December 20th, 2024
