One Health as a Solution for Food Systems in Odisha
Rising global hunger, collapsing ecosystems, and the devastating impacts of climate change are all evidence that the world’s food systems are at a breaking point. These are not isolated crises but deeply interconnected, with each shock to already dynamic systems triggering spillover effects that cascade through both natural and human systems. In a world with a rapidly growing population and increasing globalization, these complex challenges demand a systems-based approach that addresses their interdependence.
This global crisis is acutely visible at the local level, where the vulnerabilities of food systems, such as those in Odisha, India, highlight the urgent need for more integrated and adaptive responses. Food systems worldwide face unprecedented challenges from climate change, with developing regions experiencing disproportionate impacts on food production and security (IPCC, 2022). In Odisha, an eastern Indian state where agriculture represents both a primary livelihood and the cornerstone of food security, climate-related disruptions, including droughts, cyclones, and shifting rainfall patterns, are threatening agricultural productivity and food availability (Mohapatra & Mohanty, 2015). Traditional approaches to food security that focus solely on production have proven insufficient in addressing these complex challenges that span across agricultural, ecological, and social dimensions.
The One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and environmental sustainability, offers a promising framework for developing resilient food systems in the face of climate change (Zinsstag et al., 2018). This approach acknowledges that food security cannot be separated from the health of livestock, the integrity of ecosystems, and the well-being of farming communities, particularly in regions like Odisha, where agriculture, animal husbandry, and natural resource management are deeply intertwined (Duboz et al., 2020).
This article explores how the One Health paradigm can transform food systems in Odisha, a region that faces significant climate-related food security vulnerabilities but offers diverse contexts for implementation. Through analysis of theoretical foundations and practical applications, this research demonstrates how One Health strategies can enhance food system resilience while addressing nutrition challenges through an integrated approach.
Overview of Odisha’s Food System
Odisha's food system is characterized by smallholder agriculture, with rice as the staple crop supplemented by pulses, vegetables, and livestock products. Despite progress in agricultural production, the state continues to face food security challenges, with 32.6% of children under five years stunted and 34.4% of women anemic, indicative of persistent nutritional deficiencies(NFHS-5, 2021). This food insecurity is exacerbated by climate vulnerabilities that directly affect food production capacity.
The state experiences increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones, erratic rainfall patterns with both delayed monsoons and intense precipitation events, rising average temperatures, and greater climate variability that complicates agricultural planning (Mohapatra & Mohanty, 2015). Projections indicate these trends will intensify, with mean annual temperatures potentially increasing by 1.5-3.5°C by 2080 and precipitation becoming increasingly unpredictable (IPCC, 2022). These climate patterns impact Odisha's food systems in multiple interconnected ways. Firstly, crop production faces increasing challenges as shifting rainfall patterns disrupt traditional planting calendars and increase crop failure risks. Rice yields, which are the foundation of food security in the state, are projected to decline by 2050 due to climate change, while vegetables show increased pest pressures under warming conditions (Prusty et al., 2020). This directly threatens food availability and stability, two key parts of food security.
Secondly, livestock production, which provides critical protein sources and income diversification for smallholders, is under threat due to the increasing temperatures. Rising temperatures cause heat stress in animals, which reduces forage quality and quantity and alters disease vector distribution (Rivera-Ferre, Pereira, & Karpouzoglou, 2021). An example of this is in coastal districts, where saline intrusion due to sea-level rise and cyclones has decimated livestock populations as they are often kept in temporary cowsheds, with the state losing about 3.4 million cattle and goats during the 2019 Cyclone Fani (Panda, Anand, & Devi, 2023). This severely impacts dietary diversity for the numerous smallholder farmers in the state, reducing the nutritional security as livestock availability is increasingly dependent on climate variability, which in turn influences the overall livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Thirdly, food safety is increasingly compromised as climate change alters the distribution and prevalence of foodborne pathogens and zoonotic diseases. Following extreme weather events, food storage becomes more compromised, and processing and hygiene infrastructure arevulnerable (Albert et al., 2024). Efforts to boost food supply through intensified livestock production can further compound risks, increasing human-animal-environment interactions and creating fertile ground for zoonotic disease emergence. These interconnected challenges form a vicious cycle, reinforcing the need for integrative approaches. These interconnected challenges demonstrate that food security in Odisha requires approaches that address not only agricultural productivity but also the environmental foundations of food production, animal health, and the social dimensions of food access and utilisation.
One Health for Food System Resilience
One Health is defined as
"an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems" (One Health High-Level Expert Panel, 2021).
When applied specifically to food systems, this framework provides a comprehensive approach for addressing challenges at the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and public health. The core principles of One Health are particularly relevant to building climate-resilient food systems in Odisha. The integration of disciplines brings together agricultural science, veterinary medicine, nutrition, ecology, and climatology to develop holistic solutions. Systems thinking enables recognition of complex feedback loops between farming practices, ecosystem health, and nutritional outcomes, by combining scientific and traditional knowledge to create context-specific food security interventions (Rüegg et al., 2018).
In Odisha, traditional food security strategies have focused heavily on boosting rice yields, often undermining dietary diversity, ecosystem balance, and long-term sustainability. By contrast, a One Health approach to food systems recognises that sustainable food security must simultaneously consider nutritional adequacy and dietary diversity; the health and productivity of crops and livestock; and ecosystem services that sustain agricultural production, including water regulation, soil fertility, and pollination (FAO, 2019). An example of this is crop diversification by expanding beyond the rice monoculture to include millets, pulses, oilseeds, and vegetables. This would improve nutrition, reduce pest pressure, and improve soil health. Research conducted in Eastern India demonstrates that diversified cropping systems in eastern India can increase total system productivity by 25%, while reducing fertilizer requirements in order to reduce overall carbon footprint by 78% (Singh et al., 2022). Iron-rich millets, zinc-enriched rice, and vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes can address specific micronutrient deficiencies, with studies proving that consumption of biofortified crops can reduce anemia prevalence among vulnerable populations (Nutrition Bulletin, 2018).
Several One Health interventions demonstrate potential for addressing climate-related food security challenges in Odisha. These approaches move beyond conventional agricultural interventions to integrate nutrition, animal health, and ecosystem management within unified frameworks. Combining crops, livestock, and trees for an integrated farming system can optimise resource cycling, diversify income sources, and enhance overall system resilience, especially to climate change. Integrated farming systems can significantly increase farm income compared to conventional mono-enterprise systems (Behera, 2004). Tree integration can also moderate microclimates and sequester carbon. Appropriate agroforestry systems can reduce surface soil temperature by 2-3°C during heat waves and improve soil moisture retention (Kay, 2018).
Given Odisha's climate vulnerability, building resilience is essential. This can be achieved through traditional and improved crop varieties with traits for drought tolerance, flood resistance, and salinity tolerance can stabilise production under variable conditions. Furthermore, rainwater harvesting, micro-irrigation, and drainage improvements can address both drought and flood challenges.
Livestock contribute significantly to Odisha's food security through both direct consumption of animal-source foods and income generation that improves food access. Integrating animal health with environmental and nutritional goals ensures healthier livestock that yield more milk and meat, while lowering zoonotic disease risks that could impair nutrient absorption. Due to the higher consumption of animal-source food, rates of child stunting could be reduced (Assaf & Juan, 2020). This demonstrates how attention to animal health within a One Health framework directly contributes to human nutritional security.
The theory of change for the One Health approach in Odisha involves creating systemic shifts that focus on integrating agricultural, health, and environmental policies into a cohesive framework. Successful implementation of One Health approaches to food security requires political commitment from the state government and international organizations such as the WHO, UNDP, and FAO. The international organizations would initiate capacity-building efforts and cross-sectoral governance structures. Concrete activities would include farmer training in agroecological methods, livestock disease surveillance, community-led ecosystem restoration, and public health campaigns focused on the nutritional value of climate-resilient crops. These initiatives would generate immediate outputs such as improved agricultural practices, early warning systems for animal health, and increased public awareness, which in turn contribute to medium-term outcomes like reduced zoonotic disease transmission, enhanced dietary diversity, and more climate-adaptive food systems. Ultimately, the approach is expected to strengthen food security, improve health outcomes, and build long-term ecological resilience in the region.
The One Health approach creates benefits across multiple dimensions of food security in Odisha. Food availability is enhanced through climate-resilient production systems that maintain productivity despite increasing climate variability. Food access improves through income diversification and reduced production losses. Food utilization benefits from reduced foodborne and zoonotic disease risks that could otherwise compromise nutrient absorption. Furthermore, food stability is strengthened through ecosystem-based approaches that maintain the environmental foundations of food production. Primary beneficiaries include smallholder farming households who gain improved resilience to climate shocks through diversified production systems and enhanced access to services. Women particularly benefit from programs that recognize their central role in both production and household nutrition decisions. Tribal communities with traditional food systems benefit from approaches that respect and incorporate indigenous knowledge about climate-resilient crops and sustainable harvesting practices. Lastly, urban consumers would benefit from safer and more diverse food supplies with reduced chemical residues and higher nutritional quality.
The One Health approach offers a promising pathway for developing a sustainable and resilient food system in Odisha. One that is capable of withstanding climate change impacts while delivering nutritional, social, and environmental benefits. By integrating agricultural productivity, nutritional adequacy, animal health, and ecosystem functions, One Health addresses the complex interdependencies that characterize dynamic food systems under climate stress. This approach is particularly relevant in climate vulnerable regions like Odisha, where agriculture and food supply chains are disrupted, deepening chronic food insecurity and malnutrition.
However, realising the full potential of One Health for food security requires overcoming persistent institutional isolation and ensuring equity in benefit distribution. Further research is needed to quantify the multiple co-benefits of integrated approaches and develop metrics that capture food system outcomes beyond productivity alone. As climate change intensifies pressures on Odisha's food systems, the One Health approach provides a necessary shift from fragmented interventions to holistic strategies that recognise food security as fundamentally interconnected with human, animal, and environmental well-being.
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