Evidence suggests intensive farming may actually reduce the risk of pandemics A new study offered scientists unexpected results5 February 2024 5 February 2024 3 minute read 3 minute read By: By: Cambridge University EuropeScientists evaluated the evidence that intensive livestock farming is causing pandemics, with surprising results. They found that intensive livestock farming could actually reduce the risk of future pandemics, compared to non-intensive farming. Non-intensive (“Extensive”) farms require much more land than intensive farms to produce the same amount of food. Worryingly, the scientists found that we simply lack the evidence to conclude which way of farming is least risky and that there is evidence that the move away from intensive farming might actually increase the risk of pandemics. Intensive farms may have a greater risk of takeoff, but extensive farms may have greater risk of spillover.