The famous German research foundation, the Max Planck Institute, has joined forces with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in a research programme on species swapping diseases. A/H1N1, or swine flu, and H5N1 avian flu are the two most recent high profile outbreaks of trans species infections, also known as zoonoses.
The Max Planck Institute and FAO signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday (May 30), creating a strategic partnership aimed at establishing greater control over zoonotic risks in the global food chain.
According to a statement from FAO, “A key goal of the partnership will be to determine which agroecological landscapes represent the greatest risk for disease transmission among human, livestock, and wild animal populations.
“Among other things, the agreement also commits FAO and the Institute to helping countries strengthen their national capacity to balance preservation of natural resources and biodiversity with an expansion and intensification of agricultural production to ensure food security.”
“Combining the Institute’s extensive trove of data on wildlife movements with FAO data on livestock production and landscape changes due to agriculture, forestry and urbanisation, will permit a new level of insight into animal-human interactions, conservation priorities, and more effective management of and response to health risks,” said Martin Wikelski, director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.
FAO deputy director-general for knowledge Ann Tutwiler added: “Disease dynamics can no longer be considered in isolation within the livestock sector but must be placed into a broader context of sustainable agriculture, socio-economic development, environment protection and sustainability.
“This is why FAO is moving forward with the ‘One Health’ approach that emphasizes a multidisciplinary collaboration in solving challenging health issues arising from the livestock-wildlife-human-ecosystem interfaces – working closely with partners like the Max Planck Institute,” Tutwiler said.
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