Around twenty field technicians from leading companies in the Spanish swine industry, together with researchers and swine health consultants, gathered on November 27 and 28 at the new HIPRA Campus in Aiguaviva (Girona) to take part in the first edition of THINK TANK PRRS. This initiative was created with the aim of defining collaborative strategies to reduce the impact of PRRS, a disease that in recent years has become a structural challenge for the national swine sector.

A space to move from reflection to action

The objective of the forum was clear: to create a unique space for reflection, analysis, and the collective development of practical solutions for PRRS management. Unlike traditional forums, THINK TANK PRRS was conceived as a collaborative working environment, where participants shared regional experiences, debated proposals, and jointly built ideas through a format that placed interaction at the core of change.

The welcome session was led by David Caballero (Global Business Director at HIPRA) and Judit Ibars (Business Unit Manager for Swine at HIPRA Spain), who emphasized: “PRRS is a challenge that no single stakeholder can tackle alone. This THINK TANK demonstrates that when we bring together knowledge, data, and vision, we can build real and sustainable solutions for the sector.”

Innovative dynamics and industry insight

The forum, facilitated by Lidia de Lucas (Global Product Manager at HIPRA), was structured around participatory and rotating working dynamics. With the support of Xavier de Paz (Marketing Director at HIPRA), the groups addressed topics that had been previously selected by the participants themselves.

Key topics included:

• Strategies to minimize the risk of PRRS introduction and spread through gilts.

• Management of positive animals during an outbreak.

• Mutations and recombinations of the PRRS virus.

• Challenges and opportunities related to strategic piglet immunization in high-density regions.

Jordi Baliellas (Associació Porcsa, GSP Lleida) and Enric Marco (MARCO VETGRUP S.L.) enriched the discussions by contributing their experience and cross-sector perspectives. In addition, Cesc Illas (Grupo Batallé) and Sara Crespo (Cefusa) provided particularly valuable insights by presenting two different approaches to addressing the same health challenge. Their contributions highlighted how diverse methodological perspectives can lead to complementary conclusions, broadening the understanding of PRRS and opening new avenues for progress.

Data as a strategic tool

One of the most innovative aspects of the event was the central role of data in health decision-making. With the participation of HIPRA’s Digital Health division—represented by Sergi Bosch, Jorge Molina, and Lorena Nodar—discussions focused on:

• Integrating field and diagnostic data to anticipate health changes.

• Developing predictive models to support faster and more accurate decision-making.

• The need to improve the quality, traceability, and standardization of available data.

Before the closing session, attendees visited both the Digital Health facilities—where HIPRA’s value-added services are designed, developed, and optimized—and the new Aiguaviva Campus, a 28.000 m² facility corresponding to Phase 1 of the project, conceived as a hub for training and innovation.

A commitment that goes beyond this meeting

THINK TANK PRRS was launched with a long-term vision and the ambition to become an annual benchmark for strategic decision-making around PRRS. The conclusions drawn from this first edition will serve as the foundation for future research lines, training programs, and sector-wide innovation projects.

With this initiative, HIPRA reaffirms its commitment to collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. This meeting not only represents a milestone for the company, but also an invitation to the entire swine industry to join forces and accelerate progress in PRRS control.