Sygdom er fraværende i den offentlige debat om den grønne omstilling af det danske husdyrbrug

The intensive conditions in industrial animal agriculture can exacerbate disease risks. Danish veterinarians are well aware of the role that animal agriculture can play in the spread of diseases – but are the general public and Danish decision makers also aware of this? In light of the increasing attention in Denmark on the transformation of agriculture, we examine media coverage with a focus on understanding whether and how disease is represented in these debates, which are typically characterized by discussions about climate change, biodiversity, local environmental impacts, animal welfare and/or industry concerns. The study includes four major Danish newspapers over the period January 2020 to December 2025. The results show that disease is largely absent in the media coverage on animal agricultural transition. The coverage that does exist nevertheless shows two main trends with different political implications. The first portrays disease as a threat that arises outside production systems and that can be managed through technical biosecurity measures, thus appearing as a problem that can be addressed within the framework of the existing production system. The second recognizes disease as an embedded part of industrial production and calls for political action to scale down production. Still, in light of the minimal attention overall, we conclude that the media must better ensure that disease is included as an important element in the debate about the future of agriculture, and that veterinary perspectives are brought to bear in their coverage on these issues.