Experts gathered in Barcelona advocate for the “One Health” model, which proposes a coordinated approach to preventing diseases, protecting public health, and ensuring the safety of food production.
Human health, animal health, and the environment are closely interconnected. This is the foundation of the “One Health” approach—a model that calls for collaboration among physicians, veterinarians, scientists, government authorities, and professionals in the agri-food sector to anticipate health risks.
This was one of the key conclusions from the event “One Health: Connecting Science and Public Policy,” held in Barcelona and organized by the One Health Platform, the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), and the Catalan Tourist Board.
Why is this important for the livestock and meat industries?
Experts noted that certain animal diseases can have significant consequences—not only for livestock farms but also for food production, trade, and the economy.
For instance, diseases such as African swine fever can lead to severe economic losses and trade restrictions, even if they do not pose a direct risk to human health.
Consequently, participants emphasized the importance of strengthening prevention, sharing information, and improving coordination among health, veterinary, and environmental authorities.
From theory to practice
During the meeting, a guide was presented to assist public authorities in applying the “One Health” approach to their policies and decision-making processes.
Key priorities include improving the surveillance of diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans, preventing antibiotic resistance, and bolstering the capacity to respond to emerging health threats. For the livestock and meat sector, this approach highlights the importance of animal health, biosecurity, traceability, and collaboration across all links in the food supply chain.
Preventing animal diseases not only protects animals and people, but also helps ensure the production of safe food, the stability of businesses, and the competitiveness of the sector.
Source: Diario Veterinario, November 5, 2026. Information regarding the “One Health” conference held in Barcelona.
