A team of scientists argue that a One Health approach to plant health is essential to sustainably feeding a growing population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050.

A researcher who presented a commentary at CABI Agriculture and Bioscience The journal suggests that the One Health perspective can help optimize net benefits from plant protection and achieve greater food security and improved nutrition.

One Health is an integrated and unified approach aimed at sustainably balancing and optimizing human, animal and ecosystem health. We recognize that the health of humans, domestic animals, wildlife, plants and the wider environment are closely related and interdependent.

Dr. Vivian Hoffmann, Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), presents a commentary focusing on two major trade-offs at the interface between plant health and animal, ecosystem and human health. I am the lead author. .

Dr. Hoffman and researchers say that one consideration is the use of pesticides to protect plant health, rather than minimizing risks to human health and resistance to antimicrobials and insecticides. said. The other, scientists argue, is to ensure food security by prioritizing crop health to maximize agricultural production rather than protecting environmental systems.

This commentary, derived from a webinar hosted by CGIAR and attended by more than 200 participants from around the world, explores how these trade-offs can be addressed given how stakeholder priorities and constraints change. It describes the challenges and opportunities for progress associated with each. by gender.

It highlights that building the capacity of regulators in low- and middle-income countries to conduct cost-benefit analyzes has the potential to improve decision-making in the context of these and other multifaceted trade-offs.

The webinar included presentations on sustainable fortification, plant health benefits, and human health risks of using fertilizers and wastewater to fertilize food crops. Tanzania’s experience with ‘pesticide regulation’ management of food safety hazards associated with plants with weak regulatory capacity, and the role of gender in One Health.

“Increasing yields through healthy plants is critical to achieving food security for a growing world population,” Dr. Hoffman said. “However, agricultural production also poses threats to the environmental processes that support human health. increase.”

For example, the commentary highlights that agriculture accounts for 34% of greenhouse gas emissions, consumes 84% ​​of freshwater, and is the largest contributor to eutrophication causing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in water systems. .

“Interventions to promote plant health practices that balance ecological concerns with food production need to consider farmers’ constraints, needs and motivations, including those mediated by gender,” Hoffman said. added the Dr.

Webinar participants noted that farmers and other stakeholders with limited resources, especially women, may not be able to afford to prioritize environmental sustainability.

“This demonstrates the need for external funding, perhaps through international green development or climate funds, to promote ecologically sustainable farming practices,” said Dr Hoffman. .

The scientists also believe that trade-offs are expected to depend critically on the intensity of exposure to environmental hazards, food security status, and income levels. These all vary by country. Therefore, contextualized analysis is needed and the capacity for cost-benefit analysis in low- and middle-income countries needs to be enhanced as a priority, they say.

Provided by CABI