SHIC-Funded Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program Continues to Serve Industry Needs

Sep 07, 2026

The Swine Health Information Center funded the development and expansion of the Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program (SOIP) to address a critical gap in swine biosecurity. Dr. Derald Holtkamp, Iowa State University, leads the program, which offers online access, standardized resources, and reporting of outcomes for producers and their veterinarians to use in the event of a disease outbreak. While many biosecurity control measures exist, little research has focused on identifying the specific hazards and pathogen entry routes those measures are intended to prevent. Consequently, biosecurity resources are often applied inefficiently. SOIP uses disease outbreak investigations as opportunities to conduct systematic biosecurity hazard analyses, identify likely pathways of pathogen introduction, and prioritize risks that warrant intervention.

Find the entire project report for SHIC project #25-053 here.

SOIP strengthens the infrastructure needed to translate outbreak investigation findings into practical biosecurity improvements across the US swine industry. By improving data collection, training, reporting, and industry participation, SOIP provides a framework for identifying significant risks, prioritizing interventions, and improving preparedness for emerging and transboundary animal diseases. The long-term goal is to enhance herd health, productivity, and the global competitiveness of the US pork industry through more effective, evidence-based biosecurity practices.

Launched in January 2024, SOIP enables veterinarians and producers to conduct standardized outbreak investigations and securely store findings in a centralized database. By aggregating information across multiple investigations, the system allows the swine industry to identify recurring biosecurity risks and learn from collective experiences. The recently completed project’s objectives were to provide ongoing support for the SOIP platform, improve training resources, increase adoption of the application, enhance database and data extraction capabilities, and develop company- and industry-level benchmarking reports.

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Video: Food Inflation and Pork Demand - Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, discusses how food inflation is reshaping Canadian protein demand. He explains why pork remains competitively priced, consumer behavior, and why transparency, AI-assisted shopping, and protein demand will matter in the years ahead. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The potential of pork is there. We just need to see the product assume that role and take it away because all the elements are there."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab. His research focuses on food distribution, food policy, food safety, food security, and traceability. Dr. Charlebois has written four books and more than 500 peer-reviewed and scientific articles. He holds a BComm from the Royal Military College, an MBA from UQAM, and a DBA from the University of Sherbrooke. Learn more from Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.