People, animals, plants, ecosystems – making the case for investing in One Health

The economic costs from zoonotic and other infectious diseases run into billions of US dollars annually. And according to World Bank estimates, antimicrobial resistance could lead to a loss of around 3.8 percent of global gross domestic product by 2050. These global health threats and potential economic consequences mean that countries need to invest in new ways to increase preparedness and prevention. A new brief from the FAO Investment Centre, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), examines the long-term, added value of investing in One Health – an integrated approach that recognises the connections between human, animal, plant and ecosystem health. Financial and economic returns to investing in One Health: evidence and future directions looks at how the approach can reduce disease burdens, healthcare costs, environmental contamination and antimicrobial resistance spread. By promoting collaboration across sectors and disciplines, One Health helps maximise the impact of investments while reducing unintended consequences and improving long-term resilience. Geared for decision-makers, One Health practitioners and financing institutions, the brief identifies barriers and opportunities for investing in One Health initiatives and reviews current evidence and knowledge gaps on the returns on investment. It also highlights the institutional and financing mechanisms needed to scale sustainable, cost-effective interventions at all levels, from the community to the global level.