The economic sustainability of biosecurity in pig farming: a systematic review with bibliometric, network and content analyses

Abstract

As global pig production becomes increasingly intensive and consolidated, the economic and health risks associated with disease outbreaks in swine farming are rising. While biosecurity measures are recognized as essential for disease prevention and antimicrobial use reduction, their economic sustainability remains underexplored. This study aims to assess the current state of knowledge on the economic aspects of biosecurity in pig farming through a systematic literature review supported by bibliometric, network, and content analyses. A total of 586 scientific publications referring to economic aspects of biosecurity in pig farming, published from 1995 to 2023, were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and the Web of Science using PRISMA guidelines. Bibliometric analysis highlighted a growing academic interest in the topic, with an average annual growth rate of 13.89% and a notable publication peak in 2022. Network analysis identified four thematic clusters for the selected publications: swine health and virology, public health and food safety, animal disease management, and epidemiology. A more attentive focus on socio-economic issues related to biosecurity has emerged in recent years. To investigate more specifically the economic impacts, a content analysis was conducted on 25 studies reporting quantitative data on biosecurity costs. These studies were classified by supply chain phase, disease type, epidemiological design, and biosecurity measures. The majority focused on fattening farms and farrow-to-finish systems and examined internal biosecurity practices such as hygiene, disease management, and access control. While implementing biosecurity incurs upfront costs—particularly for infrastructure – these are often offset by reduced disease-related losses and increased productivity. However, cost-benefit ratios vary significantly by region, farm size, and disease prevalence. Findings indicate that, although economic evidence supports the long-term value of biosecurity, adoption remains limited, particularly among small-scale producers. This review underscores the need for more targeted and economically informed biosecurity strategies. Future research should prioritize cost-effectiveness analyses, policy tools to encourage adoption, and support mechanisms for vulnerable farms. A better understanding of the financial dimensions of biosecurity can help align health and economic sustainability goals in the swine sector.