How ASEAN trade pressure is rewriting animal health policy

How ASEAN trade pressure is rewriting animal health policy

One Health sounds simple until you try to run it across 11 countries, multiple ministries, and a food system that feeds a huge share of the planet. We sit down with Pushpanathan Sundram (Nathan), CEO of PublicPolicyAsia Advisors and former ASEAN deputy secretary general, to unpack why Asia’s One Health challenge has shifted from awareness to governance, financing, and real implementation. When half of humanity lives in the region and Asia dominates global aquaculture and livestock numbers, weak prevention and weak coordination don’t stay local for long.  In this episode, we explore what ASEAN can and cannot do as a consensus-based intergovernmental organization, and why frameworks and guidelines only matter when countries fund them, set measurable targets, and connect the dots across health, agriculture, and the environment. Nathan breaks down the AMR reality: many national action plans exist, but too often they are siloed, under-costed, and light on accountability. We also dig into outbreak lessons from avian influenza and African swine fever, how disease pressure can drive routine antibiotic use, and why smallholder-heavy production makes surveillance, veterinary services, and biosecurity harder but even more necessary.  Trade brings a sharp edge to the conversation. Tightening food safety standards in key markets can turn One Health into “trade survival”, pushing faster action on antimicrobial stewardship, lab capacity, and prevention. We also look at food security and urbanization, shifting protein demand, and the role of culture and religion, including the fast-growing halal market where trust and hygiene shape consumer choices.  If you care about One Health, AMR, animal health policy, and resilient food systems in ASEAN and the Asia Pacific, this is a practical roadmap for what to fund and how to partner. Hosts of ONE Health Live are Sarah Muirhead of Feedstuffs and Dennis Erpelding of Global Farm View. Subscribe, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review with one idea you want governments and industry to implement next.

'Forever chemicals' create supply chain concern

"Forever chemicals" are not just a headline, they are a supply chain problem. We sit down with Dr Jerry Shurson from the University of Minnesota to trace how PFAS contamination can start in everyday products and industrial uses, then travel through air and drinking water into soil, crops, livestock feed, and the food we rely on. We break down what PFAS are, why they persist for so long, and why scientists struggle to answer the question everyone asks: “What, if any, level is safe?”  With more than 15,000 PFAS compounds in circulation and limited toxicity data for many of them, setting clear dietary guidelines and food safety thresholds becomes incredibly hard. We also explore the One Health stakes, including the links to neurological issues, reproductive harm, and cancers that researchers have associated with PFAS exposure. A major theme is the circular bioeconomy. Recycling nutrients through manure, compost, and sewage biosolids can be good for sustainability, but it can also recirculate PFAS back into soils where chemicals can accumulate and enter plants and animal-derived foods like meat, milk, and eggs. We talk through what can actually be done today, from water sampling and filtration options like reverse osmosis and activated carbon to asking manufacturers about PFAS use, and why meaningful progress requires coordinated global action plus stronger research funding and regulation. If this helped you see PFAS differently, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

Red meat and global nutrition

Anemia, food security, sustainability, trade, and the future of protein are not separate conversations. They collide at the dinner plate, especially in countries where nutrition is not guaranteed and where families buy what is affordable, not what is trendy. We sit down with Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, to get specific about what beef, pork, and lamb contribute to human health and why education around nutrient density still matters. We talk about complete protein and the real-world role of iron and zinc, then move into a concrete example from developing markets: using affordable beef liver as a “center of the plate” option to help fight iron deficiency and anemia. From there, we unpack the trade mechanics that shape availability and price. Dan explains why imports and exports work as a single system, including how lean trim imports support America’s huge ground beef demand while exports create value by moving a wider range of cuts and variety meats to the markets that want them. Global population growth toward 10 billion and the rise of a global middle class raise the stakes. Dan shares how market diversification reduces risk, why long-term relationship building turned Mexico into a powerhouse market, and how newer bets like Colombia and Central America grew through deliberate investment. We also look at sustainability through the lens of productivity, quality assurance programs like PQA Plus and BQA, and the US track record on food safety as the foundation for global trust. If you care about global nutrition, meat exports, sustainable beef and pork production, and science-based food policy, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What part of the nutrition and trade link surprised you most?

Shaping the poultry industry's next chapter

The ground beneath global poultry is shifting, and not just inside the barn. Fresh from the International Poultry Council meeting in Atlanta, we unpack how geopolitical tension, a fragmenting trade order, and transboundary diseases like avian influenza are rewriting the playbook for a sector that feeds billions. Joined by Richard Griffiths, CEO of the British Poultry Council and new IPC president, we explore what leadership looks like when the old rules no longer guarantee market access, predictability, or policy certainty. We dig into the realities behind food security, antimicrobial resistance, and biosecurity, connecting them through the One Health lens that links animal health, human well-being, and environmental stewardship. Richard explains why consistency and standardization made poultry a global success story—and how the next chapter will require a stronger, more credible industry voice with institutions like FAO and WOAH. We talk candidly about trade risk, confidence, and how to keep buyers and regulators aligned around science-based solutions that protect safety and keep protein affordable. AI takes center stage as both opportunity and responsibility. From barn-level data that improves welfare and efficiency to scenario modeling that helps policymakers stress-test decisions, we frame AI as a tool to inform human judgment, not replace it. The conversation hits on data quality, governance, and the big goal: use technology to reduce bad decisions while preserving accountability. With IPC's Belfast 2027 meeting on the horizon, we outline a practical 15‑month agenda focused on trade resilience, avian influenza preparedness, and collaborative frameworks that turn uncertainty into progress. If you care about resilient supply chains, smart policy, and a secure protein future, you’ll find clear insights and next steps here. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to join the conversation.

Breaking the lice lifecycle: Timing, treatment and total coverage

Winter arrives, coats thicken, and lice populations tend to explode—quietly cutting gains, damaging hides, and even causing anemia. We sit down with Thach Winslow DVM, a veteran beef cattle veterinarian and technical consultant, to map out a clear, workable plan for winter lice control that protects herd health and the bottom line. We start by breaking down how lice survive summer heat in protected areas and why they surge as cattle “hair up.” Dr. Winslow explains the difference between chewing lice that irritate skin and sucking lice that draw blood and can debilitate animals, and he quantifies the real costs: lost weight, facility damage from rubbing, and downgraded hides. From there, we tackle strategy. You’ll hear why early treatment sets you up for a rebound, what the old two-pass system got right and wrong, and how modern options that target both adults and eggs can deliver season-long control—if you hit the window when winter truly settles in. Application makes or breaks success. We share the exact placement from forehead to tailhead, why a stream nozzle beats a shower pattern, and how to get product onto the hide where lice live. Miss one animal and you risk reseeding your entire herd, so we cover simple checks to avoid costly do-overs. We also address real-world constraints: using temporary knockdowns when processing comes early, planning a return visit for the definitive treatment, and troubleshooting re-emergence without jumping to resistance. If winter lice have ever blindsided your herd, this conversation gives you a plan to act with confidence. Treat late, treat right, and treat every head. If you find this helpful, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more producers can dial in their winter health protocols.