One Health is a collaborative approach supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). It aims to address threats to public health arising from interactions between animals, humans and the environment.
The livestock sector faces many challenges today, ranging from the growing global demand for animal products to the increasing pressure for sustainable practices. The emergence of zoonotic diseases – diseases transmissible from animals to humans – such as COVID-19, highlights the vital link between animal and human health. Implementing an integrated approach in livestock breeding serves as a proactive strategy to mitigate these challenges. It addresses key factors such as animal health and welfare, food safety and environmental sustainability, thereby reducing risks and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector. This multifaceted approach contributes to the early identification and management of potential hazards, optimising the use of resources and promoting responsible practices within the industry.
An integrated approach in agriculture not only benefits the environment and public health, but also produces economic benefits. By optimising operations and resource allocation, farmers can achieve better results at lower costs. The focus on sustainable practices can open up new markets and attract consumer segments looking for responsibly produced products. An integrated approach offers a more robust and resilient business model that can adapt to market fluctuations, regulatory changes and emerging challenges. This translates into a more sustainable and profitable agricultural sector that can sustain livelihoods and contribute to economic development on a larger scale.
The objective of the LIVET project is to promote the integration of the ‘One Health’ approach within the vocational education and training (VET) sector. This aims to enhance animal welfare, combat both endemic and emerging zoonoses and reduce antimicrobial use and resistance. Having proved its effectiveness in academia and research, the ‘One Health’ approach is now to be applied to both the VET and business sectors.
This will stimulate innovation through the cooperative flow of knowledge between higher education, vocational education and training and the wider socio-economic environment.
The goal of LIVET is to create a unique and innovative vocational education and training (VET) curriculum, with the first pilot tests planned for 2025. The curriculum will include a comprehensive set of teaching materials together with recommendations for the integration of the ‘One Health’ approach into regional, national and European regulations.
1. A 75-hour online course focusing on the adoption of the ‘One Health’ approach within the European livestock sector.
2. Three national specialisation courses on Animal Welfare, Zoonosis and Antimicrobial Use and Resistance, attended by agricultural advisory services, academic researchers and international experts.
3. An Autumn School on ‘One Health’ and Integrated Risk Management, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
4. A 150-hour internship opportunity in a national or European company.
The target groups include graduates of agricultural technical education and training institutions, university students of agriculture or veterinary medicine, consultants, technicians, livestock supervisors, and specialised livestock workers in management roles. Join us in shaping a healthier and more sustainable future for all. Register now to guarantee yourself a place in our courses and internship programmes.
The partners:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia (IT)
CESAR, Centro per lo sviluppo agricolo e rurale (IT)
UniLaSalle Institut Polytechnique (ES)
Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture de Normandie (FR)
Deutsche Lehranstalt für Agrartechnik Nienburg (DE)
Universitatea de Științe Agricole și Medicină Veterinară Cluj-Napoca (RO)
Latvijas Biozinātņu un Tehnoloģiju Universitāte (LV)
Zemnieku Saeima (LV)
Aukštaitijos Profesinio Rengimo Centras (LT)
Lietuvos Respublikos Žemės Ūkio Rūmai (LT)
