Abstract
HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) is a contagious poultry disease that brings large economic loss to the regions it infects.
In 2003, an HPAI outbreak occurred in the Netherlands; however, Dutch egg producers were able to resume their egg production and export right away.
The purpose of this study is to clarify how the Dutch egg producers could regain their competitiveness in such a short period. Toward this end, the transition that must have occurred in the egg food system is investigated into. This investigation should be able to provide other nations similarly facing an HPAI infection with an insight into the steps they need to take in order to minimize the loss resulting from the disease.
A mail-based survey and interviews conducted with experts reveal that the HPAI outbreak accelerated the ongoing transition in the Dutch egg production system from a traditional cage system to an alternative (barn, in particular) one.
Dutch and German supermarkets were forced to care about animal welfare at that time, so this transition was rewarded favourably.
In addition, the concentration of packing stations seems to have induced greater coordination among them in the emergency.
