Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge

Food insecurity is a serious and immediate concern for the world due to challenges including overpopulation; conflicts; animal, plant, and human diseases; climate change; depletion of resources; and environmental degradation. Long-term solutions for food production must consider the impacts on the e...

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Main Authors: James A. Roth, Jane Galyon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:One Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771424001903
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author James A. Roth
Jane Galyon
author_facet James A. Roth
Jane Galyon
author_sort James A. Roth
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description Food insecurity is a serious and immediate concern for the world due to challenges including overpopulation; conflicts; animal, plant, and human diseases; climate change; depletion of resources; and environmental degradation. Long-term solutions for food production must consider the impacts on the environment, water and other resources, human and animal health, and sustainable crop production.The fundamental cause of food insecurity is the rapid and unprecedented increase in human population from approximately 2 billion people in 1925 to over 8 billion in 2023. The need for food has led to major expansion of both crop and food animal production including movement into new areas; increased production requires more resources, some of which are being depleted. This paper focuses on food animal production. Humans depend on three major species for most animal-origin food: Chickens (meat and eggs), cattle (meat and milk), and swine (meat). Each species is currently threatened by diseases that can rapidly spread internationally, and some have zoonotic potential. Diversification of animal-based food, such as expanding aquaculture can help to protect against food shortages should an epizootic occur in one or more of the above species.Cutting-edge science is needed to improve food animal production and pathogen control. This requires an interdisciplinary one-world, one-health approach led by international organizations and funded by the developed world. An optimal response will involve scientists and policy experts from government, the private sector, and universities worldwide. Strengthening all nations' public health infrastructure and veterinary services is essential to this aim.Fortunately, concerns about worldwide food security are concurrent with rapid advances in nearly all aspects of science, which can be applied to sustainably increase food production both locally and globally. There must be a collective will to apply science and to implement policies to solve current food security problems and to prepare for future challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-78ceffaa17c64577ad5f03abce72a1642024-12-18T08:49:20ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142024-12-0119100864Food security: The ultimate one-health challengeJames A. Roth0Jane Galyon1Corresponding author.; Center for Food Security and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Christensen Drive, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USACenter for Food Security and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Christensen Drive, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USAFood insecurity is a serious and immediate concern for the world due to challenges including overpopulation; conflicts; animal, plant, and human diseases; climate change; depletion of resources; and environmental degradation. Long-term solutions for food production must consider the impacts on the environment, water and other resources, human and animal health, and sustainable crop production.The fundamental cause of food insecurity is the rapid and unprecedented increase in human population from approximately 2 billion people in 1925 to over 8 billion in 2023. The need for food has led to major expansion of both crop and food animal production including movement into new areas; increased production requires more resources, some of which are being depleted. This paper focuses on food animal production. Humans depend on three major species for most animal-origin food: Chickens (meat and eggs), cattle (meat and milk), and swine (meat). Each species is currently threatened by diseases that can rapidly spread internationally, and some have zoonotic potential. Diversification of animal-based food, such as expanding aquaculture can help to protect against food shortages should an epizootic occur in one or more of the above species.Cutting-edge science is needed to improve food animal production and pathogen control. This requires an interdisciplinary one-world, one-health approach led by international organizations and funded by the developed world. An optimal response will involve scientists and policy experts from government, the private sector, and universities worldwide. Strengthening all nations' public health infrastructure and veterinary services is essential to this aim.Fortunately, concerns about worldwide food security are concurrent with rapid advances in nearly all aspects of science, which can be applied to sustainably increase food production both locally and globally. There must be a collective will to apply science and to implement policies to solve current food security problems and to prepare for future challenges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771424001903Food securityZoonotic diseasesEpizooticsAquaculture
spellingShingle James A. Roth
Jane Galyon
Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge
One Health
Food security
Zoonotic diseases
Epizootics
Aquaculture
title Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge
title_full Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge
title_fullStr Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge
title_full_unstemmed Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge
title_short Food security: The ultimate one-health challenge
title_sort food security the ultimate one health challenge
topic Food security
Zoonotic diseases
Epizootics
Aquaculture
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771424001903
work_keys_str_mv AT jamesaroth foodsecuritytheultimateonehealthchallenge
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