FAO opens groundbreaking conference aimed at tackling the threat of animal diseases

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today opened its first-ever Global Conference on Animal Health Innovation, Reference Centres and Vaccines, aimed at tackling animal diseases costing the world hundreds of billions of dollars annually and posing a threat to human health, global food security and livelihoods.

“The productivity and resilience of livestock systems worldwide are threatened by infectious diseases, emerging pathogens, endemic disease burdens, and climate change,” FAO Chief Scientist ad interim Beth Crawford said in opening remarks. Addressing these challenges calls for “a united effort, leveraging our collective expertise and resources,” she added.

Significant step

The three-day event represents a “unique opportunity to explore how to integrate existing mechanisms and knowledge with new and improved tools to reduce the global burden of animal disease,” Crawford said.

Participants include Girma Amente, Minister for Agriculture, Ethiopia, Rwamirama Bright Kanyontore, Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda, Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, India, Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General, World Organization for Animal Health and animal health experts from around the world.

Animal diseases such as peste des petits ruminants (PPR), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and African swine fever (ASF) directly affect the livelihoods of farmers through increased mortality and reduced livestock productivity, resulting in:

- cost to the global economy of up to $300 billion per year

- some 20 percent of animal production being lost because of disease

-75 percent of emerging animal diseases can be transmitted to humans. 

Vaccinating animals is one of the most cost-effective and sustainable measures to prevent and control infectious emerging and re-emerging diseases. It reduces animal mortality, minimizes economic losses, decreases the need for antibiotics, and helps protect human health, food security, and farmers’ livelihoods.

The conference aims to advance global efforts to enhance animal health, prevent disease outbreaks, and promote sustainable livestock production and One Health implementation. 

However, achieving this requires overcoming numerous challenges, including infectious diseases, climate change, and productivity and resilience issues. 

FAO’s role

FAO is instrumental in addressing these challenges. It supports disease prevention and control programs, provides emergency responses, builds capacity, and ensures the supply of high-quality veterinary vaccines, all to enhance food security and livelihoods. 

Among the aims of this week’s gathering will be to explore how to integrate existing mechanisms and knowledge with new and improved tools to reduce the global burden of animal disease.

It will also highlight the critical role of the 60 FAO Reference Centres worldwide, which are institutions designated to provide specific technical advice and services across 25 thematic areas critical to Member Nations. These centres of excellence provide expertise and training in disease diagnostics, epidemiology, and applied veterinary research, supporting capacity development and playing a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability and resilience of livestock systems. The Joint FAO/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Centre’s VETLAB Network further strengthens global collaboration among veterinary diagnostic labs.

Countries will have the opportunity to voice their challenges and priorities, facilitating dialogue with stakeholders to explore support mechanisms. Experts from Reference Centres, the VETLAB network, research institutes, vaccine producers, and scientists will align their capabilities to bolster regional priorities, ensuring equitable access to expertise and resources.

The conference will advocate for expanding Reference Centres in underserved regions, improving existing centres, and fostering enhanced collaboration, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. 

Another important theme will be to address issues surrounding the secure and affordable supply of safe and effective vaccines, which are a cornerstone of disease control and eradication. Participants are expected to emphasize the importance of innovative approaches in vaccinology and the accessibility of high-quality vaccines for all livestock keepers. 

As an integral part of the conference, an exhibit will represent an opportunity to showcase the latest innovations and best practices that contribute to advance global efforts to enhance animal health, prevent disease outbreaks, and promote sustainable livestock production and One Health implementation. 

Historic victory

Among FAO’s recent achievements in animal health over recent years has been the eradication of rinderpest, which Crawford described as an “historic victory that showed the power of global collaboration and scientific innovation.” FAO, through its One Health approach, remains fully committed to tackling high-impact transboundary, emerging, and zoonotic animal diseases, as well as antimicrobial resistance, that threaten both animal and human health, he underlined.