Wednesday morning at 8:30. News about a suspected case of Lumpy Skin Disease on a Swiss dairy farm begins to circulate. While this may sound like the start of a real outbreak, it was in fact the starting point of a full-day simulation exercise we conducted together with Swissgenetics, the largest genetics provider in Switzerland.
With increasing animal disease pressure across Europe, crisis preparedness is becoming ever more important. The exercise was designed to test response capabilities under pressure, evaluate decision-making processes, and identify potential gaps in coordination and communication before a real crisis occurs.
Throughout the day, the scenario unfolded step by step. New information emerged, assumptions had to be reassessed, and decisions had to be made quickly but carefully. Communication flows were challenged, and roles and responsibilities within the crisis management team were put to the test. Fictional authorities, customers, and media entered the picture, adding complexity and pressure to the exercise. The goal was not to get everything right, but to experience what a real crisis feels like and to learn from it.
Simulation exercises create a safe space to challenge routines, reveal blind spots, and strengthen coordination. They make abstract contingency plans tangible and highlight a critical truth: crises rarely fail because of missing expertise. They become difficult when decisions must be taken under uncertainty and time pressure.
We appreciated the professional and thoughtful engagement of the Swissgenetics team throughout the day. The open discussions enabled a constructive review of processes and decision pathways. Exercises like this demonstrate that preparedness is not a document stored in a drawer, but a capability that needs to be practiced, questioned, and continuously refined.
We thank Swissgenetics for their trust and partnership and for demonstrating that resilience is built long before a crisis begins.
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