Global priorities, local realities: Horizon Scanning reveals future needs for One Health research, policy and practice

The One Health Horizon Scanning project identified pressing global and regional research priorities by engaging over 400 diverse stakeholders across multiple disciplines (animal, plant, environmental, human, agricultural and wildlife sciences), multiple sectors (public, private, non-government, civil society), educational institutions, UN agencies, other international organisations and networks), age groups, genders, levels of working experience and countries. The research involved using a multi-phase participatory process, following good practice for Horizon Scanning, comprising an online survey, participatory workshops (two face-to-face and two virtual) and a second survey. From this combined process, five high-priority themes emerged for One Health research, policy and practice: integrated surveillance, climate-driven disease dynamics, governance mechanisms, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and socio-environmental drivers of disease. While broadly aligned with the action tracks of the Quadripartite’s One Health Joint Plan of Action, key priorities surfaced, particularly around the need for environmental integration, equity, governance and implementation tools. This commentary reflects on these findings and their implications for operationalising a globally coherent but locally responsive One Health strategy.