Animals and health

Animal production is under constant pressure due to new and reemerging pathogens resulting from globalisation, trade development and climate change. Animal production here refers to livestock and other animals that live predominantly on land rather than aquatic animals. 

Transmissible animal diseases can have devastating impacts on agricultural sustainability. They entail production losses of up to 20% according to the world organisation for animal health (OIE), generate trade disruptions and affect the whole economy. This was experienced with epidemic diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, African swine fever or endemic diseases (e.g. bovine tuberculosis).

These pathogens can have a serious impact on human health and food safety. Zoonoses – diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans and antimicrobial resistance (estimated to be responsible for 33,000 deaths per year in the EU) makes One Health an important approach.

Diseases are detrimental to animal welfare and their control is key to improving overall production efficiency. Honeybee health, for example, is critical not only for apiculture but also for ecosystem services like pollination.

European agriculture needs sufficient means to fight diseases and develop practices that would prevent their occurrence in the first place. It requires integrated approaches and the development of tools for prevention, monitoring and control, along with risk management strategies. This includes ensuring prudent use of anti-microbials and seeking alternatives to anti-microbials.