Safe food and healthy people – how One Health research makes a difference
Researchers from SLU and partner universities in Africa and Asia are working together to reduce antimicrobial resistance. They do that by studying how bacteria spread between animals, people and food, thereby gaining new knowledge that can be used to improve food safety and protect public health.
Sofia Boqvist, professor of veterinary public health, tells more about some of the research projects she is involved in.
“In many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), livestock are vital sources of food, income and nutrition. However, when animals are kept close to people, and when animals and foods are sold at traditional markets with inadequate hygiene and biosecurity, the risk of spreading bacteria that cause disease or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) increases. In many LMICs, antibiotics are often sold over the counter without a prescription, leading to unnecessary antibiotic usage and increased AMR.”
Could you provide a brief overview of some of your projects?
“I am part of a research group where researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and partner universities in Uganda, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Cambodia are working together to make food safer and protect public health by improving understanding of diseases transmitted between animals and humans (so called zoonotic diseases) and through food. Their projects primarily focus on Campylobacter and Salmonella bacteria, which commonly cause foodborne illnesses and are becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobials.”
“In Uganda and Ethiopia, our teams study how Campylobacter spreads between animals, people and the environment. They examine how antibiotics are used on farms and what farmers know about the associated risks. This information helps identify ways to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and results so far show a high level of resistance among Campylobacter isolates.”
“In Cambodia, the researchers have found that more than half of the fresh foods sold on local markets harbour Salmonella. They are now mapping how these bacteria spread and how AMR develops.”
“In Vietnam, the focus is on improving hygiene in slaughterhouses and traditional markets where most pork is sold, to reduce the spread of disease-causing bacteria. Simple measures, such as separating clean and dirty areas or improving floors and equipment, can make a big difference.”
How does these research projects relate to One Health?
“All these projects share a One Health perspective, recognising that the health of people, animals and the environment are closely connected. By combining microbiology, epidemiology, and social science, the teams generate knowledge that can inform better practices, policies and training to support safer food and improve public health.”
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More about Sofia Boqvist's research: Sofia Boqvist, professor of veterinary public health
Sofia Boqvist's profile page: Sofia Boqvist