Sustainable Livestock Systems

Issue

Threats to public health from zoonotic disease, foodborne illness, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are severe and becoming increasingly so as the global population and demand for livestock-derived foods increase. AMR undermines the effectiveness of essential medicines and threatens both human and animal health, while foodborne diseases remain a persistent and widespread public health issue, closely linked to both AMR and animal husbandry practices. These issues are deeply intertwined, with actions in one area often impacting the others. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic and integrated approach, underscoring the need for innovative research and policy. Developing advanced methods for disease and AMR surveillance and mitigation, as well as working directly with industry, will be crucial to achieving the dual objectives of satisfying global food demand and safeguarding public health. The effort will require insights from animal science, veterinary medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, data science, economics, and public health science, as well as engagement with industry partners and the public at large. This Critical Issue Initiative brings together extension educators, industry stakeholders, and faculty experts from these diverse academic fields to develop strategies for enhancing livestock productivity, animal health, and food safety.

Convener

Erika Ganda, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Food Animal Microbiomes
Department of Animal Science

Associated Members

• Adrian Barragan, Associate Research Professor, Extension Veterinarian
• John Boney, Associate Professor of Poultry Science
• Melissa Cantor, Assistant Professor of Precision Dairy Science
• Ed Dudley, Professor of Food Science, Director of E. coli Reference Center
• Tara Felix, Associate Professor, Beef Extension Specialist
• Ernest Hovingh, Clinical Professor and Extension Veterinarian, Resident Director of the Animal Diagnostics Lab
• Jasna Kovac, Associate Professor of Food Science
• Ran Li, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness Management
• Erika Machtinger, Associate Professor of Entomology
• Leoni Martins, Assistant Clinical Professor of Precision Dairy Nutrition
• James Mutunga, Assistant Professor of Biology, Penn State Harrisburg
• Elizabeth Ransom, Associate Professor of International Affairs
• Veronica Roman-Reyna, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology
• Mary Ann Smith, Lecturer in Biology, Penn State Schuylkill
• Becca Weir, Extension-Research Assistant Professor of Agricultural Risk Management & Agricultural Finance