World animal health lacking funding

The world is failing to invest in animal health despite mounting evidence that the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of prevention, according to the annual State of the World’s Animal Health report published by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

It said animal diseases destroy more than 20 per cent of ​​global animal production.

These impacts are felt most acutely in low- and middle-income countries, where animal health plays a critical role in sustaining livelihoods, food security and economic resilience. 

Inadequately funded systems struggle to detect and respond to diseases early, while also facing challenges in maintaining animal welfare standards. it said.

Recent reductions in international aid budgets are compounding the pressure. Development assistance for health has declined to approximately US $39.1 billion in 2025, with animal health accounting for less than 2.5 pert cent of that total. 

In this context, strengthening animal health systems – the shared infrastructure that guards against naturally emerging diseases, accidental releases and deliberate biological threats alike – remains underfunded, despite their essential role in managing cross-border risks, including emerging diseases and biological threats, the report said.

Bringing Veterinary Services in every country up to international standards would cost approximately US $2.3 billion per year, less than 0.05 per cent of the US $3.6 trillion in economic losses attributed to COVID-19 in 2020, a disease that most likely emerged from an animal source, it said.

Seventy-five per cent of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, making animal health systems the world’s first line of defence against outbreaks, including a potential next pandemic. However, the report indicates that these systems are under strain, with 18 per cent of countries recently assessed showing declining veterinary capacity, and 22 per cent showing declining paraprofessional capacity.

Based on 54 countries and territories assessed by WOAH, it is estimated that an average 52 per cent budget increase would be required to meet the actual annual cost of effective Veterinary Services. 

The report calls on governments to increase funding for animal health systems and to align funding with long-term prevention rather than crisis response.

Global deal for sharing food safety

 

There is a new global deal to share information about livestock and poultry diseases that can infect people and information about food safety.

The Quadripartite Alliance—comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—together with regional partners including the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Regional International Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA), announced the signing of a Joint Declaration to strengthen regional coordination under the One Health approach in the Americas, marking the first regional agreement of its kind.

Through this Declaration, the participating organizations reaffirm their commitment to promoting coordinated responses to health threats that transcend sectors and borders, contributing to the protection of the health of people, animals and ecosystems across the Americas.

Tetra Pak launches new milk processing idea

Tetra Pak has officially launched its first industrial bioreactor that processes milk.

 It is designed for producers of fermentation-derived ingredients.

It uses yeast, bacteria, and fungi to convert raw agricultural inputs into functional food ingredients, building directly upon Tetra Pak’s strategic acquisition of Bioreactors.net in December, 2025.

The commercial roll-out aims to directly alleviate the heavy capital and operating pressures that frequently plague alternative ingredient companies during scale-up phases, the company said.

Tetra Pak notes that the integrated platform configuration can reduce day-to-day operating costs by up to 12 per cent by improving long-term process stability, simplifying routine operator workloads, and mitigating contamination risks. 

Canadians eligible for beef payback

Canadians who bought beef after 2015 could be eligible for a share of nearly $8 million as part of a proposed settlement with companies over allegations of price-fixing.

A statement from multiple Canadian law firms said JBS USA, Swift Beef, JBS Packerland Inc. and JBS Canada ULC have agreed to pay $7.49 million while National Beef has agreed to pay $495,000.

The deal still needs to be approved by the courts and is not considered an admission of wrongdoing by the companies. 

A settlement hearing for members in all provinces except Quebec is scheduled for Sept. 10, while the Quebec settlement hearing is slated for Dec. 1 of this year.

The class-action lawsuit was filed in 2022 alleging that companies that sell beef were involved in an unlawful conspiracy involving the supply or price of beef sold in Canada.

There have been a number of price-fixing settlements in the United States for chicken, turkey, pork and beef. 

Some of the same companies as in the Canadian settlement were involved.

Lambton plowing match still on

The Ontario Plowmen's Association said it is dedicated to holding the International Plowing Match in Lambton County next year despite Lambton Plowmen's Association pulling out.

The provincial association said it will work with sponsors to make the show happen in Lambton County.

            

Foreign investors flocking to Canada

 

Foreign investors are showing more interest in Canada, according to John Stackhouse, senior vice-president in the office of the chief executive officer of the Royal Bank of Canada, and Warren Keading, Saskatchewan’s Minister or Trade and Export Development.

They were speaking recently at the annual conference of Seeds Canada.

 Stackhouse said his bank is getting calls from investors in Europe, Asia and the United States.

“We are seeing more interest in Canada right now than we’ve seen in well over a decade,” he said.

“We are at a critical, critical moment in this country,” said Stackhouse.

Keading said the interest in Canada is “phenomenal.”

“We’re no longer chasing investment. Investment is now coming here chasing us,” he said.

Stackhouse said the entire economy needs to ensure it’s “go time” to take advantage of the large amount of capital flowing into Canada.

Feds support beef, veal promotions

Federal agriculture minister Heath MacDonald announced a $4-million investment in the Canadian beef and veal sectors at the Calgary Stampede. J

Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association will receive the funding to increase the visibility of Canadian beef and veal in potential export regions.

The Prairies beef industry has suffered through droughts in recent years and now has been inundated by floods.

“We are in constant discussions with provinces, territories (and) industry to ensure the future success of Canada’s agriculture,” said MacDonald. “It’s certainly challenging times.… Hopefully, the government can stand shoulder to shoulder with the provinces and with the stakeholders.”