Emerging human infectious diseases and the links to global food production

Infectious diseases are emerging globally at an unprecedented rate while global food demand is projected to increase sharply by 2100. Here, we synthesize the pathways by which projected agricultural expansion and intensification will influence human infectious diseases and how human infectious diseases might likewise affect food production and distribution. Feeding 11 billion people will require substantial increases in crop and animal production that will expand agricultural use of antibiotics, water, pesticides and fertilizer, and contact rates between humans and both wild and domestic animals, all with consequences for the emergence and spread of infectious agents. Indeed, our synthesis of the literature…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: R01GM109499, R01AI125842, 1646708, 1360330, 1754868, 1654609, DEB-1518681, IOS-1754868, 1241889, R01TW010286-01, EF-1241889, 1414102, CAREER, 1518681, DEB-1413925, 1413925
• UE
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  Awards: CAREER 83518801, 83518801
• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture

  Awards: R01TW010286-01, R01GM109499, 2009-35102-0543, EF-1241889
• BA
  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01TW010286-01, R01GM109499, EF-1241889, R01TW010286, R01GM109499, R01TW010286, 1646708, R01AI125842, 1360330