PREZODE co-organizes a side event with FAO, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, and Heifer International. Bringing together experts, community representatives, and decision-makers, the discussion will showcase countries’ experiences and initiatives, highlight the need for investable solutions, and demonstrate how the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems can help prevent zoonotic spillover.
Rome, Italy — 22 September 2026, 16:45–17:45 – FAO HQ.
From 21 to 23 September 2026, the FAO Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems will provide a crucial platform for discussion and engagement with global, regional, and national stakeholders. Building on the One Health in Agrifood Systems Framework and other global initiatives, the conference will highlight the added value of applying the One Health approach to strengthen agrifood systems by integrating the health of people, animals, plants, and environments in both rural and urban settings.
Linking agrifood systems and zoonosis prevention
Agrifood systems are a powerful entry point for the primary prevention of emerging diseases of animal origin. Sustainable agricultural practices, ecosystem conservation, biodiversity protection, agroecological approaches, responsible livestock production, and resilient food value chains can substantially reduce the drivers of zoonotic spillover while generating multiple co-benefits for food security, livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Reducing zoonotic risk requires integrated and transformative approaches that address the structural drivers of emergence and embed prevention into equity.
PREZODE, through its pillars and multidisciplinary network, supports the co-development and implementation of these upstream prevention strategies alongside governments, researchers, communities, and international partners. In this respect, PREZODE’s mission is closely aligned with the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture (Joint FAO/IAEA Centre) — to advance One Health and accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems worldwide.
Concrete transformative initiatives and countries’ experiences
On 22 September, PREZODE is co-organizing a side event with FAO, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, IAEA’s Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), and Heifer International on the theme “Transforming Agrifood Systems to Prevent Zoonotic Spillover at Source.” The meeting will present concrete transformative initiatives, showcase countries’ experiences, highlight the need for investable solutions, and demonstrate how the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems can help prevent zoonotic spillover at source — while delivering co-benefits for food security, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Confirmed speakers
- Dr. Samuel Anzaku, Director of Veterinary Services of the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
- Dr. Amadou Dicko, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Burkina Faso.
- Dr. Soawapak Hinjoy, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, President of the PREZODE General Assembly, Principal Investigator of the PREZODE project ASAMCO.
- Dr. Elsa Leger, Chief Science Officer, PREZODE.
- Prof. Ni Luh Putu Indi Dharmayanti, Chair, Research Organization for Health, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
- Pr. Prisca Mugabe, Associate Professor in Livestock Sciences, and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food System, University of Zimbabwe.
- Dr. Conrad Ntoh Nkuo, veterinarian, Permanent Secretary of the Zoonosis Program in Cameroon, Contributor to the PREZODE project AfriCam.
- Dr. Theophilus Odoom, Veterinary Diagnostic Pathologist, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer & Head, Accra Veterinary Laboratory.
- Mr. Keshav Sah, Heifer International Nepal.
- Dr. Huyam Ahmed Salih, Director, AU-IBAR (African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources).
- Dr. Viskam Wijewardana, Laboratory Head, Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, IAEA.