Biosurveillance begins on the farm and ends on the fork. Whether you are working at a food manufacturing site, a processing plant, a harvest facility, or a storage site, or you are a grower, a farmer, or a rancher, you are part of the system of producing food for the world. In a March 2024 U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) stated that, "Food security is national security." At least six other Congressional members expressed that same sentiment. The food industry is also becoming acutely aware that this is indeed the case. How do we increase security in the food system? In this article, the focus will be on employing two tools in a One Health vision of biosurveillance: whole genome sequencing (WGS) and hyperspectral imaging.
Let us begin by establishing a definition of One Health and biosurveillance. Quoting from the American Veterinary Medical Association: "One Health refers to two related ideas: First, it is the concept that humans, animals, and the world we live in are inextricably linked. Second, it refers to the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment."1 While not a new idea, its significance has surged recently due to evolving dynamics among humans, animals, vegetation, and the broader environment.