From science to action: Transforming agrifood systems to prevent zoonotic spillover at source

Linking agrifood systems and zoonosis prevention

The FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems will provide a platform for discussion and engagement with global, regional and national stakeholders.

Building on the One Health in Agrifood Systems Framework and other global initiatives, the conference will highlight the added value of applying the One Health approach to strengthen agrifood systems by integrating the health of people, animals, plants and environments in both rural and urban settings.

Agrifood systems are a powerful entry point for the primary prevention of emerging diseases of animal origin. Sustainable agricultural practices, ecosystem conservation, biodiversity protection, agroecological approaches, responsible livestock production and resilient food value chains can substantially reduce the drivers of zoonotic spillover while generating co-benefits for food security, livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Reducing zoonotic risk requires integrated and transformative approaches addressing the structural drivers of emergence and embedding prevention into agrifood systems.

Through its pillars and multidisciplinary network, PREZODE supports the co-development and implementation of these upstream prevention strategies alongside governments, researchers, communities and international partners. Its mission is closely aligned with the efforts of FAO and the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre to advance One Health and accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems worldwide.

Concrete transformative initiatives and countries’ experiences

The meeting will present concrete transformative initiatives and countries’ experiences, highlight the need for investable solutions, and examine how the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems can help prevent zoonotic spillover at source while delivering co-benefits for food security, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development.

Confirmed speakers

• Dr. Samuel Anzaku, Director of Veterinary Services of the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
• Dr. Amadou Dicko, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Burkina Faso.
• Dr. Soawapak Hinjoy, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, President of the PREZODE General Assembly, Principal Investigator of the PREZODE project ASAMCO.
• Dr. Elsa Leger, Chief Science Officer, PREZODE.
• Prof. Ni Luh Putu Indi Dharmayanti, Chair, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
• Pr. Prisca Mugabe, Associate Professor in Livestock Sciences, and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food System, University of Zimbabwe.
• Dr. Conrad Ntoh Nkuo, veterinarian, Permanent Secretary of the Zoonosis Program in Cameroon, Contributor to the PREZODE project AfriCam.
• Dr. Theophilus Odoom, Veterinary Diagnostic Pathologist, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer & Head, Accra Veterinary Laboratory.
• Mr. Keshav Sah, Heifer International Nepal.
• Dr. Huyam Ahmed Salih, Director, AU-IBAR (African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources).
• Dr. Viskam Wijewardana, Laboratory Head, Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, IAEA.

Launched at the 2021 One Planet Summit by INRAE, CIRAD and IRD, PREZODE now brings together more than 280 members and observers around a shared objective: preventing the emergence of zoonotic diseases. With international governance, the initiative relies on working groups bringing together 87 experts from 36 countries, as well as joint platforms with WHO, FAO and WOAH focusing on disease emergence indicators, the return on investment of One Health approaches, and dialogue between governments, science and society. PREZODE is also part of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). 

→ Learn more about PREZODE and its latest developments