Exiting, enduring and innovating: Farm household adaptation to global zoonotic disease

► Farm households adapted to BSE using three adaptation types: innovating, enduring and exiting. ► Enduring is important in short-term crisis although long-term chronic enduring increases vulnerability. ► Farm exits were mostly forced and thus often left households economically and emotionally vulnerable. ► Grassroots innovations were especially important in the relative absence of expert-driven innovation. ► Adaptations made in the farm household can be as important as those made in the farm operation.