What seems at first like a straightforward animal disease outbreak can turn into an incredibly complex situation when politics come into play. Dealing with one such animal health issue with multiple policy dimensions was the topic of a three-day workshop (October 19–21 at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities) for food and animal health industry professionals, government regulators, policymakers, and students in veterinary medicine and related academic programs.
During the program, 14 participants used the challenge of controlling and eradicating bovine tuberculosis (TB) from cattle and wild animal populations in Minnesota as a framework for exploring an issue affecting policy at multiple government levels. Students worked at the interface of animal, human, and public health, developing and implementing state-level standards and polices, and meshing the many dimensions of public health, interstate trade, animal health, and food safety. Presentations by a variety of players provided a multidimensional look at the challenges and circumstances involved when TB crops up in cattle in an area where wild deer roam. Presenters included a lobbyist, Minnesota’s state veterinarian, representatives from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association.
Participant Daniel Erwin, an Army microbiologist and Ph.D. student at Washington State University, says the workshop provided him with valuable insights into the importance of attending to the policy and political aspects of problems that at first glance appear to be purely a matter of science.
The instructors “stressed time and time again that building good relationships is key during any kind of crisis.” Too often, scientists don’t think of the implications of their work for other people involved. “Scientists want to produce data and find out how things work,” Erwin says. “That isn’t always the best way to go about doing things.”
Alistair Kenyon, a veterinarian pursuing a master’s degree in preventive medicine from University of California Davis, appreciated the diversity of perspectives presented.
“In production medicine and production animal agriculture, we are often on the receiving end of policy and policymaking,” he says. “My interests lay in seeing how decisions are made at the state and national level. It was an exceptional course, with a pretty amazing cast of people that really acted as a cross section through the decision-making process.”
The course was presented by GIFSL, the University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, UC Davis, and Washington State University under the leadership of U of M faculty member Katey Pelican and WSU faculty member Bill Sischo. It is the latest in a series of policy courses that have been rotating among institutions. Last year’s policy course, held in Olympia, Washington, focused on international, national, and local issues related to the importation of animals. Next year’s course will be hosted by the Ohio State University.
|