Healthy Rural Living

The rapid global transition towards increasingly intensive and high-input agriculture and livestock farming has led to deterioration of ecosystems and raised questions about potential impacts on human health.

Potential health effects from inhalation or ingestion of air, drinking water, or food contaminated by farm emissions are diverse and include zoonotic infections or infections with antimicrobial resistant bacteria. But it may also enhance the risk of non-communicable disorders due to air pollution or pesticide exposure.

In addition to adverse health effects, studies have also shown protective effects of farming environments on the development of allergies. An important question for future sustainable agriculture is how to stimulate new forms of (livestock) farming with reduced emissions, while taking into account farm animal health and welfare.

 

Research Projects

  • Livestock Farming and Neighbouring Residents’ Health (VGO)

    In the Netherlands, there is an ongoing debate regarding environmental health risks of exposures from livestock farming, in particular from swine and poultry farms. The overall objective of the VGO study is to investigate whether environmental exposure to livestock farm emissions in the Netherlands poses a health risk among neighbouring residents. 

    Duration: till end of 2024
    Project member: Lidwien Smit
    Funding: Dutch Ministries of Health & Agriculture, ZonMW

  • Regio Deal Foodvalley

    How do you stimulate new forms of agriculture, increase awareness among people about healthy food and give an impulse to the development of new knowledge? Researchers from Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht, together with the other partners of the Regio Deal Foodvalley, are looking for answers to these questions.

    Duration: 2020 - ongoing
    Project member: Wietske Dohmen

  • SPRINT

    The SPRINT project will make an internationally valid contribution to assess integrated risks and impacts of pesticides on environment and human health, both at regional and European level. SPRINT will inform and accelerate the adoption of innovative transition pathways towards more sustainable plant protection in the context of a global health approach.

    Duration: 2020 - 2025
    Project members: Anke Huss & Daniel Figueiredo
    Funded by: Horizon 2020