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2017: Wildlife-Friendly Beef
Vast fences in southern Africa currently separate cattle from wildlife that can carry foot-and-mouth disease, impeding key species migration routes. A new approach to keeping beef virus-free for international sale that does not completely depend on fences could open global markets for farmers living with wildlife, enhancing livelihood opportunities from both agriculture and sustainable ecotourism. Working with partners in Botswana, this team will pilot test new guidelines for biosafety in beef production that rely on practical risk mitigation steps, instead of habitat-disrupting fences.
Investigators: Steven Osofsky, Shirley Atkinson, Randy Worobo