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 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.