About this Research Topic

Background

It has been said that “the difficulty with predicting the future is that uncertainty seems to increase exponentially with the number years in the future, simply because we can’t predict technology let alone geopolitical upheavals”. By the year 2050 our world will grow to 10 billion people, and we need to feed them with shrinking resources. At the same time, we must take into consideration that global warming will have a profound impact on the animal production systems in coming decades, if no timely measures are adopted to address this pressing issue. These issues desperately need to be addressed, and certainly solutions to these pressing problems will be intertwined, as we strive to feed a growing population, while building sustainable and efficient food systems. Clearly, health is at the heart of the sustainable animal production systems, therefore, optimizing the animal health and mitigating the stresses of pathogen- and production-related diseases is also essential. It is now well-established that animals are more susceptible to diseases when they are kept under stressful environments. Therefore, improved animal management systems focusing on disease prevention are essential for optimized production of animals. In addition, it has been said that over 60% of pathogens that cause human diseases originate from domestic or wild animals, therefore, protecting the health of animals and the environment protects human health. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been regarded one of the most pressing health issues of the present time and as well as is a growing threat to livelihoods and global food security. It is daunting to even imagine a world where there is almost no cure for diseases in humans, animals, and plants. This worst-case scenario might turn-out to be a reality as pathogenic microbes develop resistance to the antimicrobial arsenals that are used to combat them. The societal demand regarding public health (zoonoses, AMR etc.), welfare, and sustainability (i.e., feed efficiency, methane emission) is also increasing. The good news is that solutions do exist and the quest for efficient production systems, intelligent breeding, improved nutrition, viable diagnostic methods, tailored-made biosecurity procedures, and integrated health and welfare management is ongoing with the scientific community and industry.

Fittingly, it has been said that all of the world’s big problems are multidisciplinary in nature, therefore, the present-day animal scientists and veterinary researchers must break their expertise-based cocoons and work in a collaborative manner to sustainably meet the on-going and future increasing demand of animal source foods and to ensure good health of animals. Finally, as we search for quantum leaps in productivity, novel and innovative technological solutions need to be put in the practice to achieve these envisaged goals.

1. Studies focused on sustainable animal production, particularly those centred on the principle of “clean, green and ethical animal management systems”.

2. Disease management (including transboundary diseases, zoonoses, of course) and control strategies

3. Studies focusing on alternatives to antibiotic use in animal health and production systems and mitigation of AMR threat

4. Mechanistic studies focused on the host-pathogen interactions

5. Practice and the development of novel and classical therapeutics aimed at improving health and production

6. Studies using innovative technological and bioinformatic tools to address the pressing issues relevant to animal health and production

7. Studies focused on bringing the animal production systems on the path to climate neutrality

Keywords: sustainable animal production, disease management, one-health, food security, zoonoses, host-pathogen interaction, microbiome, intelligent breeding technology, climate change, AMR

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