NPB invited participants to embark on a comprehensive two-day farm to fork experience designed to immerse learners in the intricacies of the swine industry. The experience was structured to increase knowledge of the complexities of One Health approaches in animal, human, plant, and environmental health spaces.
Farm to Fork Experience
The One Health farm to fork tour took place from July 22-24, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and was hosted by NPB along with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV).
The experience spanned all production phases, including a feed mill, truck wash and processing plant in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. The educational tour focused on biosecurity, animal well-being and sustainability to create a dialogue between human health, animal health and food safety professionals.
Participants on the tour included veterinarians, medical doctors, and epidemiologists from the CDC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health departments. Specific topics covered during the experience included:
- Antibiotic stewardship
- Biosecurity
- Animal Science
- Public health
- Animal welfare
- Food Safety
- Sustainability
One Health Approach
The One Health approach recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment. The tour offered an unparalleled opportunity to gain firsthand experience and insights into swine industry operations through on-site visits, interactive lectures, and hands-on activities, emphasizing the One Health aspects of food animal production.
Participants walked away from the tour with a basic knowledge of swine medicine and swine production, the ability to describe One Health in practice in the swine industry and gaining a greater appreciation of industry and professional collaboration. The tour also helped establish new connections for supporting healthier populations and is an investment of producer and Pork Checkoff dollars.
Convening for Stronger Collaborations
The farm tour experience is evidence of NPB’s holistic approach to connecting directly with colleagues in the public health sector. Additionally, on-farm practices contribute to a healthy community and the health of the people we are proud to feed.
Later this month from August 28-30, animal agriculture leaders from multiple species sectors will host a reversal of the farm tour experience with a meeting in Atlanta at the CDC campus. This meeting will support CDC delegates as they provide informed One Health information that includes perspectives and practical applications from experts and professionals in the animal agriculture sector.
As we look to the future, NPB will continue to provide the public health sector with a deeper understanding of the processes, technologies, and standards of the swine industry – all with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.
