The Health and Biotechnology Research Group at the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), together with the European consortium ENETWILD, has launched the first high-resolution European map of wild boar density. This scientific breakthrough, published in 2024, marks a milestone in wild boar population management and the control of diseases such as African swine fever (ASF).

Until recently, managing this problem faced a technical obstacle: data on wild boar abundance in Europe was fragmented, as each country used different methods to count its populations. This lack of harmonization prevented scientists and policy and management makers from having a comprehensive and accurate overview to act in a coordinated, efficient, and effective manner in response to epidemics.

Through unprecedented international cooperation, a Europe-wide wild boar density map with a spatial resolution of 2×2 km has been created, providing an accurate and comparative overview of wild boar populations across Europe. This map is an essential tool for surveillance, disease modeling, and control measure planning.

The results, which are already available as a preprint and will be published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research, indicate a total wild boar population in Europe of between 13.5 and 19.6 million individuals before the annual hunting season in the main distribution area of the wild boar, prior to the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The estimated wild boar population in Spain exceeds 2.4 million individuals, with more than 200,000 in Catalonia.

The map reveals that, despite hunting efforts, wild boar populations in Europe have continued to grow, especially in the high-density “Mediterranean corridor,” which stretches from southern France and Catalonia to southeastern Spain. These areas coincide with high concentrations of domestic pigs and major transportation routes, increasing the risk of ASF spread.

This scientific advancement not only improves wildlife management, but also provides a disease monitoring system with direct applications in epidemiological modeling and risk analysis, marking an important step in scientific cooperation to address transnational biological problems.

According to the latest report on zoonoses produced under the “One Health” approach by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), changes in eating habits and the aging of the European population could be behind the increase in serious Listeria infections. Every year, thousands of people in Europe fall ill after consuming contaminated food; the most common sources include eggs, meat, and ready-to-eat products.

In 2024, listeriosis accounted for the highest proportion of hospitalizations and deaths among all foodborne infections reported in the EU. The upward trend observed in recent years can be explained by multiple factors, such as an aging population, increased consumption of ready-to-eat foods, and inadequate food handling and storage practices.

For ready-to-eat foods, contamination levels remain very low in most categories. The most recent data on Listeria monocytogenes show that only between 0% and 3% of the samples analyzed exceeded European safety limits, with fermented sausages being the products with the highest frequency of contamination. Although rare, infection can be very serious, making Listeria a priority threat in food surveillance.

Other foodborne infections, such as Campylobacter and Salmonella, remain the most common in Europe, particularly linked to poultry meat and eggs. Data from the animal sector also show a significant increase in Salmonella-positive flocks over the last decade.

Most of these illnesses can be prevented by following good hygiene practices:

• maintain proper refrigeration,
• observe expiration dates,
• cook food thoroughly,
• practice extreme cleanliness, and
• avoid contact between raw and cooked foods.

Mato Grosso followed registered historical numbers in both exports and slaughter, demonstrating the strength of the sector's recovery after the challenges faced in 2022 and 2023.

According to the National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA), national production is expected to reach 5.47 million tons in 2025, a 2.0% increase compared to 2024.

In the period from January to November, Brazilian pork exports grew 10.8%, exceeding the 2024 volume, which was a record year. The Philippines consolidated itself as the leading destination, representing 24.5% of revenue, followed by Japan, China, and Chile.

According to data compiled by the Data Hub of the State Secretariat for Economic Development (Sedec), pork exports increased from US$59.97 million between January and November 2024 to US$68.55 million in the same period of 2025. The sector maintained growth driven by the expansion of buyer markets, especially in Asia.