December 2020 - 16

Reconciling wild bird conservation, farm food safety
By Sean Montgomery
University of Georgia
Following the onset of several
major outbreaks of foodborne
pathogens traced back to wildlife,
buyers of farm-fresh produce began
encouraging the removal of natural
habitats and nesting areas on farms to
discourage wildlife intrusion.
As this tactic became a preventative
measure targeted at limiting farmland
contamination due to wildlife
presence, Olivia Smith, a postdoctoral
researcher in the University of
Georgia's College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, began to
focus her research on identifying the
food safety risks posed by wild birds
due to agricultural intensification -
examining the various relationships
between farming practices, land-use
practices around farms and crop
contamination by birds.
With populations of birds
already rapidly declining due to
repercussions from agricultural
intensification, this solution is
particularly problematic because
farmland remains an important
Olivia Smith, a postdoctoral researcher in UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, focuses her research on identifying the food safety risks posed by wild birds
due to agricultural intensification - examining the various relationships between farming
practices, land-use practices around farms and crop contamination by birds. Photos:
University of Georgia.
habitat for many species of birds.
" Birds provide important insect
pest control services to sustainable
farmers, so removing birds makes
it harder for these farmers to farm
without pesticides, " said Smith.
" Therefore, it is extremely important
to understand how much of a problem
birds are likely to be for food safety
and how we might reduce that risk. "
With foodborne illness remaining a
major concern in the U.S. and abroad,
this in-depth research is important
for harmonizing food production
and wildlife conservation, while
preserving the general health of
consumers around the globe. Despite
widespread fear that birds are a major
cause of foodborne illness, Smith's
studies showed only one conclusive
study linking foodborne illness back
to birds.
" One of the greatest challenges of
our time is to figure out how to feed
8 billion people while supporting
a healthy environment for future
generations, " Smith said. " Bird
populations have been rapidly
declining, with an estimated 3 billion
birds lost over the last several decades.
Meanwhile, a growing body of
research has shown that biodiversity
provides important pest control
services to farmers. Thus, it is timely
and imperative to understand how
to best comanage conservation, food
production and food safety. "
Smith's findings, which were
published in the Journal of Applied
Ecology, suggest that these natural
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December 2020

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