A global look at what is driving animal health, sustainability, and more.
Over the next two weeks, the 2024 United Nations High-level Political Forum in New York will assess the effective delivery of resilient and innovative solutions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 amidst multiple crises.
With delegates set to conduct in-depth reviews of goals that include SDG2, or the eradication of hunger, solutions from the animal health sector have a key role to play in safeguarding and improving global access to nutritious animal-source food, from milk and eggs to meat and fish. As I wrote in a?recent article, recognition of the importance of animal health to sustainability is growing.?
This is because healthy animals support healthier people, economies and communities. Continued investment in veterinary research and development, along with policies and initiatives that expand access to tools like vaccines, are essential for ending hunger and achieving our shared goals for a sustainable and equitable future.?
Latest news
A selection of notable articles from the past few weeks?
- Summary: Experts share the benefits of improved policy and increased funding to fill the vaccine gap for food-producing animals, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- Why it matters: Ensuring access to the right vaccines for food-producing animals can improve food security and economic well-being as well as mitigating climate and environmental impacts.
- Dig Deeper:?A 2023?report?by Oxford Analytica analysed the relationship between animal health and environmental, social and economic sustainability using a unique regression model. Their results found significant positive connections.
- Summary:?Roxane Feller, Secretary General of AnimalhealthEurope, explains why the spread of avian flu into dairy cattle poses a growing risk of livestock disease crossover and why animal health should be a priority for the incoming European Parliament.
- Why it matters:?The spread of animal diseases such as avian flu poses a threat not only to livestock health but to human health as well. Diseases also significantly impact the productivity of global agrifood systems, affecting food security.
- Dig Deeper:?A recent?journal study?analysed the effect of livestock disease prevention on emissions and found that control of HPAI in poultry can reduce emissions by 11.2%.
- Summary:?Experts have called for high alert and prompt action to protect global agrifood systems amidst an outbreak of a highly pathogenic subtype of avian influenza called H5N1 in the US.
- Why it matters:?Adopting a One Health approach and channelling resources into disease management can reduce the spread of diseases, particularly into lower-income countries where outbreaks can have significant economic repercussions.
- Summary: An in-depth analysis of animal health practices -?including vaccination, biosecurity, breeding, improved feed, diagnostics and digital - and how they can help?reduce the climate footprint of livestock.
- Why it matters: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has called animal health "vital for sustainable livestock production." Increasing uptake of key technologies in emerging markets is essential.
Insights and Research
Notable research on animal health, sustainability and more
"There is a need to better understand the global economic losses due to dairy cattle diseases."
In a recently published?paper, scientists involved with the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) program modelled the economic impact of 12 dairy cattle diseases and health conditions across 183 milk-producing countries. The key findings included:
- The total annual global losses were estimated at US$65 billion, with subclinical ketosis, clinical mastitis, and subclinical mastitis the costliest diseases.
- The greatest aggregate annual losses were estimated to be in India, the US, and China, all countries with annual losses close to or exceeding US$5 billion per year.
- Nutrient-rich foods, such as milk, are anticipated to continue playing a key role in global nutrition and food security, making disease control for dairy cattle essential.
From the Archives
Resources from leaders in animal health and sustainability
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The animal health sector is well-positioned to be a leading force for positive change towards the achievement of the SDGs. Through improved animal health, the world can,
- Secure a pathway out of poverty and hunger for the billion people who rely on livestock
- Contribute to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing for people
- Reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture to support a more sustainable food system.
Something to share
One interesting item to share with your networks
Share this post?with your networks!
Before you go...
- Did you celebrate World Zoonoses Day last Saturday? Read our LinkedIn article –?Good Health for All includes Health for Animals?– on why more investment is needed in animal health to tackle the zoonoses that affect billions of people across the world.
- Mark these “World Days” and events coming up soon in your calendars!?World Population Day?is on July 11, and the FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report is expected on?July 24. Check us out on?Twitter/X,?Facebook?and?LinkedIn?where we'll be celebrating these days and more.
