STRENGTHENING MEAT PRODUCTION FOOD SAFETY TEACHING THROUGH A VIRTUAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE SIMULATOR (VSS)

Practical training is crucial to the understanding of how slaughterhouses function and how food safety, animal health and welfare risks are recognized and controlled. Restricted access to slaughterhouses due to biosecurity reasons limits the possibility of on-site experience for students. The COVID-19 pandemic increased these restrictions. The University of Edinburgh developed a Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (VSS) to provide veterinary students with insights into the slaughterhouse environment and problem solving necessary to perform specific official control tasks. Working with a multidisciplinary team of experts under the UNA Europa umbrella, has improved the quality of the content of the VSS, increased the awareness, and resulted in additional funding and resources to develop it further. The simulator is based on the European Union food safety legislation; but it can be adapted to reflect the food safety challenges of any other country in the world. It could also support life-long learning among veterinarians and other professionals working in meat production and food safety. New versions of the virtual slaughterhouse simulator are planned for other production animals (pig and poultry) and could be further developed for additional species.