ONE Health Live

A disease outbreak can start in a barn, a field, or a forest, then ripple into food prices, trade shocks, and public health risks. Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), leads global efforts tied to food security, emergency agricultural assistance and sustainable agriculture. She joins One Health Live co-hosts Sarah Muirhead and Dennis Erpelding in this episode to talk about the role of One Health in protecting food systems and preventing disease outbreaks.We walk through “FAO 101” in plain terms: why FAO was founded in 1945, what it does today across 193 member countries, and how it operates on the ground in roughly 160 country offices. Beth breaks down FAO’s unique value in three areas: agricultural data and analysis that many countries can’t generate alone, international standard setting that protects consumers and markets, and deep technical expertise that helps countries strengthen crops, livestock systems, land and water management, and resilience to shocks like droughts, floods, and animal disease.From there, we focus on One Health as a full system, not a slogan. We connect soil and plant health to animal health, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and human outcomes. Beth explains how Codex Alimentarius and the International Plant Protection Convention create science-based rules that reduce risk and make trade safer and more predictable. We also dig into how FAO partners with various groups and why success depends on country-level capacity like labs, vets, surveillance, and fast reporting.The biggest takeaway is a mindset shift: prevention has to be funded like essential infrastructure, more like paying for fire stations than paying per fire. If you find this helpful, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. 

A single pest can shut a border. A single disease can wipe out herds and destabilize prices. So how do 34 countries across the Americas coordinate fast enough to protect food security, animal health, and human nutrition while still keeping trade moving? We sit down with Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), to unpack how regional cooperation actually works when the stakes are high. We talk through IICA’s unique role as an intergovernmental connector: aligning agriculture ministers, supporting in-country programs, and building consensus around science-based standards used in Codex Alimentarius, IPPC, WOAH, and WTO SPS processes. Lloyd explains why predictable, trusted rules matter in real life, especially when trade disputes flare up or when supply chains get stressed by climate events and geopolitics. From Mediterranean fruit fly control to New World screwworm risk, African swine fever response, and renewed focus on avian influenza, we explore concrete examples of One Health action that combine prevention, preparedness, and control. We also go big-picture on innovation in agriculture: digital tools, AI, new genetics, resilient seeds and animals, and the growing bioeconomy, all aimed at producing more food with the same land while protecting soil and natural resources. If you care about sustainable agriculture, biosecurity, and science-based trade, this conversation will sharpen how you think about solutions. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more people can find One Health Live.

One Health sounds simple until you try to run it across 11 countries, multiple ministries, and a food system that feeds a huge share of the planet. We sit down with Pushpanathan Sundram (Nathan), CEO of PublicPolicyAsia Advisors and former ASEAN deputy secretary general, to unpack why Asia’s One Health challenge has shifted from awareness to governance, financing, and real implementation. When half of humanity lives in the region and Asia dominates global aquaculture and livestock numbers, weak prevention and weak coordination don’t stay local for long. In this episode, we explore what ASEAN can and cannot do as a consensus-based intergovernmental organization, and why frameworks and guidelines only matter when countries fund them, set measurable targets, and connect the dots across health, agriculture, and the environment. Nathan breaks down the AMR reality: many national action plans exist, but too often they are siloed, under-costed, and light on accountability. We also dig into outbreak lessons from avian influenza and African swine fever, how disease pressure can drive routine antibiotic use, and why smallholder-heavy production makes surveillance, veterinary services, and biosecurity harder but even more necessary. Trade brings a sharp edge to the conversation. Tightening food safety standards in key markets can turn One Health into “trade survival”, pushing faster action on antimicrobial stewardship, lab capacity, and prevention. We also look at food security and urbanization, shifting protein demand, and the role of culture and religion, including the fast-growing halal market where trust and hygiene shape consumer choices. If you care about One Health, AMR, animal health policy, and resilient food systems in ASEAN and the Asia Pacific, this is a practical roadmap for what to fund and how to partner. Hosts of ONE Health Live are Sarah Muirhead of Feedstuffs and Dennis Erpelding of Global Farm View. Subscribe, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review with one idea you want governments and industry to implement next.

"Forever chemicals" are not just a headline, they are a supply chain problem. We sit down with Dr Jerry Shurson from the University of Minnesota to trace how PFAS contamination can start in everyday products and industrial uses, then travel through air and drinking water into soil, crops, livestock feed, and the food we rely on.We break down what PFAS are, why they persist for so long, and why scientists struggle to answer the question everyone asks: “What, if any, level is safe?” With more than 15,000 PFAS compounds in circulation and limited toxicity data for many of them, setting clear dietary guidelines and food safety thresholds becomes incredibly hard. We also explore the One Health stakes, including the links to neurological issues, reproductive harm, and cancers that researchers have associated with PFAS exposure.A major theme is the circular bioeconomy. Recycling nutrients through manure, compost, and sewage biosolids can be good for sustainability, but it can also recirculate PFAS back into soils where chemicals can accumulate and enter plants and animal-derived foods like meat, milk, and eggs. We talk through what can actually be done today, from water sampling and filtration options like reverse osmosis and activated carbon to asking manufacturers about PFAS use, and why meaningful progress requires coordinated global action plus stronger research funding and regulation.If this helped you see PFAS differently, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

Anemia, food security, sustainability, trade, and the future of protein are not separate conversations. They collide at the dinner plate, especially in countries where nutrition is not guaranteed and where families buy what is affordable, not what is trendy. We sit down with Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, to get specific about what beef, pork, and lamb contribute to human health and why education around nutrient density still matters.We talk about complete protein and the real-world role of iron and zinc, then move into a concrete example from developing markets: using affordable beef liver as a “center of the plate” option to help fight iron deficiency and anemia. From there, we unpack the trade mechanics that shape availability and price. Dan explains why imports and exports work as a single system, including how lean trim imports support America’s huge ground beef demand while exports create value by moving a wider range of cuts and variety meats to the markets that want them.Global population growth toward 10 billion and the rise of a global middle class raise the stakes. Dan shares how market diversification reduces risk, why long-term relationship building turned Mexico into a powerhouse market, and how newer bets like Colombia and Central America grew through deliberate investment. We also look at sustainability through the lens of productivity, quality assurance programs like PQA Plus and BQA, and the US track record on food safety as the foundation for global trust.If you care about global nutrition, meat exports, sustainable beef and pork production, and science-based food policy, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What part of the nutrition and trade link surprised you most?

The ground beneath global poultry is shifting, and not just inside the barn. Fresh from the International Poultry Council meeting in Atlanta, we unpack how geopolitical tension, a fragmenting trade order, and transboundary diseases like avian influenza are rewriting the playbook for a sector that feeds billions. Joined by Richard Griffiths, CEO of the British Poultry Council and new IPC president, we explore what leadership looks like when the old rules no longer guarantee market access, predictability, or policy certainty.We dig into the realities behind food security, antimicrobial resistance, and biosecurity, connecting them through the One Health lens that links animal health, human well-being, and environmental stewardship. Richard explains why consistency and standardization made poultry a global success story—and how the next chapter will require a stronger, more credible industry voice with institutions like FAO and WOAH. We talk candidly about trade risk, confidence, and how to keep buyers and regulators aligned around science-based solutions that protect safety and keep protein affordable.AI takes center stage as both opportunity and responsibility. From barn-level data that improves welfare and efficiency to scenario modeling that helps policymakers stress-test decisions, we frame AI as a tool to inform human judgment, not replace it. The conversation hits on data quality, governance, and the big goal: use technology to reduce bad decisions while preserving accountability. With IPC's Belfast 2027 meeting on the horizon, we outline a practical 15‑month agenda focused on trade resilience, avian influenza preparedness, and collaborative frameworks that turn uncertainty into progress. If you care about resilient supply chains, smart policy, and a secure protein future, you’ll find clear insights and next steps here. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to join the conversation.

Winter arrives, coats thicken, and lice populations tend to explode—quietly cutting gains, damaging hides, and even causing anemia. We sit down with Thach Winslow DVM, a veteran beef cattle veterinarian and technical consultant, to map out a clear, workable plan for winter lice control that protects herd health and the bottom line.We start by breaking down how lice survive summer heat in protected areas and why they surge as cattle “hair up.” Dr. Winslow explains the difference between chewing lice that irritate skin and sucking lice that draw blood and can debilitate animals, and he quantifies the real costs: lost weight, facility damage from rubbing, and downgraded hides. From there, we tackle strategy. You’ll hear why early treatment sets you up for a rebound, what the old two-pass system got right and wrong, and how modern options that target both adults and eggs can deliver season-long control—if you hit the window when winter truly settles in.Application makes or breaks success. We share the exact placement from forehead to tailhead, why a stream nozzle beats a shower pattern, and how to get product onto the hide where lice live. Miss one animal and you risk reseeding your entire herd, so we cover simple checks to avoid costly do-overs. We also address real-world constraints: using temporary knockdowns when processing comes early, planning a return visit for the definitive treatment, and troubleshooting re-emergence without jumping to resistance.If winter lice have ever blindsided your herd, this conversation gives you a plan to act with confidence. Treat late, treat right, and treat every head. If you find this helpful, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more producers can dial in their winter health protocols.

Hunger rises fastest when good intentions collide with bad rules. We sit down with Brazil’s poultry leader, Ricardo Santin, to unpack how a country at the heart of global protein supplies is navigating animal diseases, as avian influenza; biosecurity; vaccination, and fair trade—without pricing families out of a meal. Ricardo shares data on Brazil’s production scale in chicken, pork, and eggs, then walks us through the real-world costs of blanket trade bans. The science is clear: properly handled and cooked meat doesn’t spread avian influenza, yet many markets still shut their doors, driving up prices for the poorest consumers.We dig into One Health thinking—protecting animals, people, and the environment together—and why biosecurity remains the first line of defense. When diseases become endemic, vaccination matters, but markets have to recognize it. Ricardo makes the case for extending regionalization, zoning, and compartmentalization to vaccinated areas just as we do for outbreak zones. That shift protects flocks while keeping protein affordable, and it secures access to genetic material that low-income countries rely on to sustain their poultry sectors. Along the way, we explore the roles of WOAH, FAO, and national authorities in turning science-based standards into consistent, fair trade practices.If you care about global food security, this conversation offers a pragmatic playbook: align policy with evidence, reward prevention, and design rules that keep safe food moving. We close with a simple principle that doubles as a challenge to policymakers and industry alike: There should be no borders for food. If this resonated, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss a candid look at where animal health meets our dinner tables.Your co-hosts for ONE Health Live are Sarah Muirhead of Feedstuffs and Dennis Erpelding of Global Farm View.

Calves don’t read the playbook, so we wrote one that actually works on the ground. We brought in Dr. Jeremi Wurtz, a beef cattle technical consultant and veterinarian with Elanco, to map out a clean, science-first path from the first sip of colostrum to a calm, productive post‑weaning period. The focus is simple: reduce stress, build immunity, and protect gains with choices that pay back in healthier calves and better margins.We start where lifetime health really begins—colostrum. You’ll hear why poor passive transfer can multiply BRD risk and how that early immunity shapes everything that follows. From there, we get practical with low-stress weaning: fence-line or two-step approaches, gentle handling that keeps cattle thinking instead of reacting, and the small facility tweaks that make processing days smooth. Then we stack a smart vaccine plan on top, dialing in timing so calves get a priming dose before separation and a booster after they settle. Nutrition and preconditioning take center stage as we talk bunk training, water access, and the role of ionophores like Rumensin in boosting average daily gain, feed efficiency, and coccidia control. If you’re developing heifers, you’ll learn how small efficiency gains bring more heifers into puberty earlier, improving conception rates and lifetime productivity. If you’re shipping steers to a feedlot, we outline how to hit intake fast and hold health steady to lower cost of gain. Finally, we dig into parasite control with real numbers.

Disease keeps moving faster than our systems, but prevention can win if we line up science, policy, and delivery. We sit down with HealthforAnimals’ executive director Carel du Marchie Sarvaas to unpack what the global animal health industry is seeing on the front lines—from avian influenza behaving like an annual wrecking ball to the quiet progress of antimicrobial stewardship that rarely makes headlines. The throughline is simple and urgent: healthier herds and flocks mean steadier food supplies, lower emissions, and less pressure on hospitals, yet animal health receives a tiny sliver of funding compared to its impact.We pull back the curtain on why vaccines for HPAI remain underused despite proven options: fears of export bans, uneven regulation across borders, cold-chain gaps, and the hard math faced by smallholders. Then we dig into what would actually change outcomes—harmonized trade rules that recognize vaccination, targeted financing and delivery support, and agile regulation that keeps pace with new biologics and diagnostics. Along the way, we explore the AMR Roadmap’s 25 commitments, the data behind falling antibiotic use in many countries, and how new vaccines and diagnostics are helping shift from blanket use to precision stewardship.Zooming out, we examine how the quadripartite (FAO, WHO, WOAH, UNEP) is raising the One Health bar while national silos still slow real-world coordination. We talk practical steps: shared metrics across ministries, reliance and data-sharing among regulators to cut duplication, and sector-wide principles that unify producers, vets, and industry around sustainable livestock. If you care about food security, climate-smart agriculture, trade resilience, and public health, this conversation lays out a path where prevention is the strategy, not the afterthought.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone in your network who works in food or health, and leave a quick review with your top takeaway. Co-hosts of ONE Health Live are Sarah Muirhead of Feedstuffs and Dennis Erpelding of Global Farm View.