SLU's new professor in One Health with focus on food production from healthy animals in circular systems

Stefan Gunnarsson is SLU’s newly appointed professor in One Health with a focus on food production from healthy animals in circular systems. We asked Stefan to share some of his thoughts and visions for his new role.

How do you feel about being appointed professor in One Health with a focus on food production from healthy animals in circular systems?

"I feel happy, but also humbled by the responsibility. The position gives me the opportunity to support the development of One Health research related to farm animals through a broad cross-disciplinary approach. Furthermore, I hope to support young scientists in their development and help them navigate a complex scientific and societal world."

What are your plans in your role?

"In the near future, I will continue coordinating international collaboration in interdisciplinary European projects, such as BroilerNet, as well as launch new projects that have recently received funding. An important task will also be to explore how the concept of One Health can be further integrated into collaborative projects currently in the pipeline, and how One Health perspectives can be strengthened in undergraduate and graduate education. I will do this in close collaboration with the other One Health professors and the SLU Future One Health platform.

From a broader perspective, I aim to take on coordinating roles in new interdisciplinary European projects and to encourage and support younger colleagues to participate in international One Health consortia. In this way, I hope to contribute to training the next generation of researchers who can play key roles in cross-disciplinary international collaborations."*

What are your visions and what do you hope to achieve in this role?

"Through my professorship, I hope to contribute to important sustainability goals, for example by reducing emissions and biodiversity loss through research that improves animal health and welfare, thereby reducing the need for medications while maintaining efficient and sustainable farm production. Another important focus is to strengthen cross-disciplinary research that integrates monitoring technologies, such as computer vision, to better understand and improve livestock systems and their impacts on animal health, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic outcomes – while meeting the needs of both animals and farmers."

We wish Stefan the best of luck in his new role and look forward to following his work.

Two more professors will be appointed in the field of One Health. More information about the professor in One Health and Antimicrobial Resistence. The third position has not yet been appointed.

More about Stefan and his work.