Better together: identifying the benefits of a closer integration between plant health, agriculture and one Health
The One Health Initiative seeks to promote, improve and defend the health and well-being of all species
Abstract
The launch of the One Health Initiative, which 'seeks to promote, improve and defend the health and well-being of all species', is an important recognition of how linking human and animal health has prompted new ideas and actions. Surprisingly, plant health is not explicitly addressed by the initiative. This chapter first provides an overview of the 3 major health movements (namely, One Health, agriculture and health, and ecosystem approaches to health (ecohealth)), and examines their relation to plant health. It then reviews past and recent works in plant health, to show examples of how new approaches and ideas from plant health clinics could strengthen One Health and improve health outcomes for all. The chapter considers the strategic and practical role of plant health in One Health through 3 areas: joint service delivery, cross-sectoral coordination and cross-sectoral learning. It compares the current view of plants as part of One Health and related movements and the meaning of plant health more generally: it is more than crop protection or integrated pest management. Recent developments in service delivery and health systems are reviewed for plants, people and animals. Lastly, a tripartite approach to plant, human and animal health is proposed, showing how this could help stimulate and shape cross-sectoral actions.
Citation
Boa, E.; Danielsen, S.; Haesen, S. Better together: identifying the benefits of a closer integration between plant health, agriculture and One Health. In: One Health: the theory and practice of integrated health approaches. CABI, Wallinford, UK (2015) 258-271. ISBN 9781780643410 [DOI: 10.1079/9781780643410.0258]