Principles of One Health for a better planet

The climate crisis, inequality, poverty, disease, hunger, food waste, and loss of biodiversity are all part of an extensive list of global challenges impacting us at a local level that could be addressed better by using the One Health approach. In a world where people, animals and the environment are recognized as being interconnected and interdependent, we need to work together to improve the health of people, plants, animals and ecosystems simultaneously.One Health provides the thinking, concepts, tools, and practical approaches needed to tackle health problems in a collective and collaborative way. But what is One Health, and how can we implement it in our everyday life? This textbook provides an easy to understand, straightforward description of One Health concepts, principles and methods, structured around core competencies so that everyone can contribute to addressing today's most profound global problems more efficiently and effectively. As an entry-level learning resource for anybody with an interest in better understanding and implementing One Health, it is a comprehensive yet accessible introduction for undergraduate and postgraduate students, practitioners, decision-makers and researchers across a wide range of subject specialisms.

Barbara Häsler is a One Health researcher and Professor in Agrihealth at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London with expertise in animal health and One Health economics, evaluation, surveillance, food safety and food systems. She is involved in several One Health research and engagement activities focusing on connected and integrative thinking in One Health, the value of One Health (and how it can be measured) and learning activities to promote One Health competences in different learning communities. She also has a strong interest in the application of One Health skills in livestock and fish food systems.

Asta Tvarijonaviciute received her degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Kaunas, Lithuania in 2006 and her Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences in 2012 at the University of Murcia, Spain, where she is currently working as a contracted professor. Her research activity is focused mainly on the study of health and welfare in different species using non-invasive samples (such as saliva) and is documented by more than 130 publications on peer-reviewed international scientific journals, 1 book, 3 book chapters and several communications in international and national congresses.

Sara Savic is a researcher working in a Scientific Veterinary Institute "Novi Sad", in a laboratory for zoonotic diseases of bacterial and parasitic origin, including vector borne diseases. She received her PhD degree in 2010, on the topic of Lyme disease in dogs and ticks. Her research is focused on diagnostics and prevalence of different zoonotic diseases (including vector borne diseases) in animals, vectors and humans, and the interactions of the three components. She got engaged with One Health topics in 2013 and continued to develop in that direction. She has participated in several national and international projects, from which she has managed several and currently she has the position as Head of laboratory for zoonotic diseases of bacterial origin and Quality manager of the Institute.