Policy seminar: COVID-19, food systems, ecosystems, and the risk of zoonotic diseases
- From
-
Published on
24.08.20
- Impact Area

The COVID-19 pandemic—which originated when the novel coronavirus jumped from an animal population to humans, and initially spread in a wet market in Wuhan, China—raises many questions about the risks of such zoonotic diseases and the food system. Should we minimize the risk of zoonotic disease transmission by reducing our reliance on animal proteins? Or would it be more effective to reduce food system climate change impacts given their likely contribution to future zoonotic disease risks?
An Aug. 18 IFPRI virtual policy seminar addressed these and other critical questions on the interactions between ecosystems, food systems, and public health. Agricultural drivers are responsible for more than 50% of zoonotic infectious diseases that have emerged in humans. But with effective policies, agriculture and food systems can play a vital role in preventing such outbreaks.
One CGIAR is currently developing a new research strategy to achieve its vision of ending hunger through science to transform food, land, and water systems during the climate crisis. After an introduction by Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of IFPRI’s Environment and Production Technology Division, speakers explored the agriculture-ecosystem health interface and zoonotic disease risks in light of the pandemic.
Related news
-
Africa hosts landmark GGAA 2025 Conference in Nairobi, centering climate-smart livestock solutions
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)12.10.25-
Adaptation
-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Mitigation
For the first time in its history, the International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture (GGAA)…
Read more -
-
Emboldening Equitable Climate Adaptation: A Handbook for Field Research Leaders
Eisen Bernard Bernardo10.10.25-
Adaptation
-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
Climate change makes life incredibly difficult for smallholder farmers, but the programs meant to he…
Read more -
-
AI Tool Makes "Invisible Enemy" Visible, Tackling Aflatoxin Risk in Africa's Maize
Sehlule Muzata09.10.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Food security
An innovative early warning system powered by artificial intelligence is poised to transform how Afr…
Read more -