The rapid movement of people, animals, and food products, driven by globalization, presents a significant challenge to food security. Today, food security threats can arise in one part of the world and quickly spread to others, impacting human, animal, and environmental health. These interconnected sectors demand a One Health approach to address the multifaceted nature of modern food security problems.
At the recent International Symposium on One Health Research, professionals from agriculture, academia, and government gathered to discuss innovative strategies to improve food security. The symposium highlighted how emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted food production systems and increased food prices globally. These examples illustrate the need for transdisciplinary research collaborations to mitigate future risks.
Figure 1: Through international trade and modern transportation, an emerging microbial threat to food security can travel via humans, animals, or food products half-way around the world in less than 24 h (Photos used with permission from Adobe Stock).
One of the most critical challenges discussed was antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which results from the overuse of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture. AMR threatens food security by increasing the potential for drug-resistant pathogens to emerge, which could affect both food production and public health. Symposium participants called for more comprehensive surveillance systems and a shift from reactive to proactive strategies to manage such risks effectively.
The symposium concluded by urging researchers and policymakers to embrace the One Health approach to food security. Only through collaboration across sectors and disciplines can we safeguard the future of food systems and mitigate the risks posed by emerging global threats.
Journal article: Gray, G. C., & Nguyen-Tien, T. (2024). Threatened by many complex food security problems – agriculture, academic, and government professionals seek new One Health research partnerships. One Health.
Summary by Faith Oluwamakinde
