The SCAR AH&W CWG is the co-creation platform for preparing the candidate Animal Health & Welfare Partnership. This is one of the candidate partnerships under Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment). It will focus on fighting against infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance in terrestrial and aquatic animals and on animal welfare.

As certain animal diseases and resistant germs can be transmitted to humans, mainly through direct contact or via food, combating them also has a beneficial effect on human health. The partnership will carry out research and promote cooperation between the partners so that they are better prepared for future disease outbreaks and animal welfare issues. It will also encourage the implementation of the results by others, including industry, e.g., for the development of new diagnostics, vaccines, or welfare tools.

The partners within the partnership base all research and collaborative activities on a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The SRIA is being developed in cooperation with ICRAD ERA-NET. The SRIA will list the priorities in research and innovation needs as expressed by international organisations such as EFSA, EMA and OIE, related Horizon Europe Partnerships and other relevant European networks, pharmaceutical industry associations, representatives of farmers and veterinarians, and universities.

The partnership is expected to start its activities in late 2023 or early 2024.