Health as a priority
Animal production is a source of food and income for many. This is true in lesser developed countries where production is expected to grow by 50 percent by 2020. While the need to invest in production efficiency is clear, this can take resources from health protection. Maintaining adequate health standards protects both animals and humans. By some estimates, more than 75 percent of human diseases start in the animal population. Longer-term solutions focused on economic and social capital must be enacted.