08/05/2026
Please take action and email UN Secretary Dongyu at
[email protected]
UN FAO Director-General QU Dongyu just announcedwhat he describes as a bold "new" approach to fighting zoonotic disease, only it's really just another band aid.
To combat the rising threat of zoonotic diseases spreading through the global animal agriculture industry, QU Dongyu isn’t proposing a reduction in animal consumption and more investment in plant-based food systems. Instead he is proposing solutions that protect animal industry profits and are far more costly, like “steering committees,” “emergency centers” and high tech “digital surveillance” systems. And while he speaks of the hungry and vulnerable, the burden of these costs will fall on the general public, instead of the industry.
Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, and New World screwworm, among others, demonstrate that transnational outbreaks “are spreading faster, further, and with greater impact on economies and livelihoods than ever before,” Qu added.
Help us send a strong message to the Director-General that plant-based food systems are the most cost-effective, immediate and common sense solution to the threats we face. As long as we raise and slaughter billions of animals in extreme conditions, disease outbreaks will intensify despite the costly, high tech solutions.
(Suggested Script)
Director Dongyu,
Plant-based food systems are the most cost-effective, immediate and common sense remedy to the zoonotic disease threats we face.
As long as we raise and slaughter billions of animals in extreme conditions, disease outbreaks will intensify despite the use of the costly, high tech solutions you are citing.
While you recently spoke of the hungry and vulnerable on our planet, the burden of costs for your high tech solutions will fall on the general public, not the animal agriculture industry. If you really care about the vulnerable, then put their interests over corporate animal ag. profits and advocate for plant foods and plant proteins.