One Health and the Environment at SLU: Current Status and Opportunities

This report explores the development and integration of the environmental pillar of One Health at SLU. Despite SLU’s strong expertise in environmental and ecological sciences, its One Health activities have traditionally focused on veterinary sciences, with limited emphasis on environmental health. Globally, the importance of environmental health within One Health frameworks is increasing, driven by challenges such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change and pollution. Key Findings ● Education: While SLU’s programs address environmental topics like sustainable agriculture and forestry, explicit links to One Health remain limited. Only one program explicitly identifies as One Health-related. ● Research: Many researchers work on environmental health topics but often do not explicitly connect their work to One Health, highlighting an opportunity for better alignment. ● Collaboration: Few centers explicitly identify with One Health, though many have the potential to integrate its principles through existing research and partnerships. Recommendations 1. Enhance Awareness: Raise awareness of the One Health framework across SLU faculties through targeted outreach and educational initiatives towards lesser represented areas. 2. Integrate into Education: Develop interdisciplinary courses and programs that explicitly promote the incorporation of environmental sciences into the One Health framework. 3. Foster Collaboration: Strengthen connections between veterinary, plant, and environmental sciences, using existing platforms to facilitate transdisciplinary research. 4. Aid Funding Opportunities: Advocate for large-scale funding to support ambitious, integrated projects addressing One Health challenges. By addressing these gaps and leveraging its strengths, SLU can position itself as a global leader in advancing the environmental dimension of One Health, contributing innovative solutions to critical global health and sustainability challenges.