Global animal food production is undergoing a major transformation that could lead to a higher risk of disease transmission from animals to humans, warns Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
'The risk of disease transmission from animals to humans will increase in the future due to human and livestock population growth, dynamic changes in livestock production, the emergence of world-wide agro-food networks and a significant increase in the mobility of people and goods,' FAO said in a policy brief issued on September 17.
'There is no doubt that the world has to depend upon some of the technologies of intensive animal food production systems,' said FAO livestock policy expert Joachim Otte.
'But excessive concentration of animals in large scale industrial production units should be avoided and adequate investments should be made in heightened bio-security and improved disease monitoring to safeguard public health,' he added.
As countries have become more affluent and the world's population continues to rise, demand for meat and other livestock products has grown substantially, according to FAO.
To satisfy this higher demand for meat products, livestock production and densities have significantly increased, often close to urban centres.