Watch a replay of our live, one-hour webinar held on June 5th, World Environment Day 2024. Observed annually, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world. In recognition of this year's official themes - land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience – VWB/VSF hosted a one-hour live webinar to explore how rural communities are adapting to climate change impacts through One Health approaches. Panelists (described below), included experts in health, climate change, agriculture, and environment, will discuss resilience-building solutions implemented in response to environmental challenges.
>> Watch the Replay Now <<
Dr. Katinka de Balogh (Dr.med.vet, DESS, Dipl. ECVPH)
Former Senior Animal Health and Production Officer @ FAO Investment Centre in Rome, Italy
Katinka studied veterinary medicine in Berlin and Munich and obtained her doctorate in tropical parasitology from the Tropical Institute of the University of Munich in 1984. She specialised in tropical animal production and health in France and in Veterinary Public Health (VPH) in the Netherlands. After a short career as a zoo veterinarian in the Rotterdam Zoo she moved to Africa where she worked for 9 years as a district veterinary officer in rural Zambia and lecturer at the veterinary faculties of Lusaka (Zambia) and Maputo (Mozambique). In 1997 she started as a lecturer in VPH and international coordinator at the veterinary faculty in Utrecht, the Netherlands. From 2002 until 2022, she worked at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy and was the FAO focal point on One Health and its linkages with the World Organisation for Animal Health and the World Health Organization. Katinka now serves on the VWB Canada Board of Directors, leveraging her extensive expertise in global health initiatives.
In this webinar, Katinka discussed how the One Health framework integrates the environmental sector to address issues like antimicrobial resistance and extends its applicability to non-communicable challenges such as environmental pollution.
Dr. Silvia Sarapura (Ph.D.)
Associate Professor, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development @ University of Guelph
Silvia studied in Peru before earning her MSc and PhD from the University of Guelph's School of Environmental Design and Rural Development. With a focus on rural planning for development, gender transformative change, and agricultural research and development, Silvia has garnered over fifteen years of global experience. Her research has spanned multiple continents including Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, establishing her as a leader in international rural and agricultural development strategies. Initially engaged with the International Potato Center (CGIAR) in Peru, focusing on food security and agricultural systems development, Silvia transitioned to a pivotal role at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in the Netherlands up to July 2019. As a Post-Doctoral Fellow with WorldFish, CGIAR, she was a key member of the Global Scientific Team on Aquatic Agricultural Systems, implementing the Research in Development Approach across five countries in Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Silvia’s work continues to influence global policies on gender equality and agricultural development.
In this webinar, Silvia explored the concept of One Health through the lens of indigenous knowledge and practices in Peru and Canada. She will share how Indigenous communities integrate their deep connections with animals, plants, and the environment into a holistic health framework.
Donald Hilborn (P.Eng.)
Former Agricultural Engineer @ Ontario Minstry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Donald enjoyed a dedicated 37-year career as an Agricultural Engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. His work focused on supporting livestock farms and expanding into diverse projects like soil drainage, renewable energy, and nutrient management. Upon retiring, Donald continues his passion for agriculture by farming with his spouse, Sue. Together, they seasonally cultivate strawberries, tomatoes, and asparagus. In the winters, Donald's commitment to agricultural development extends globally through his volunteer work in Africa, where he has completed three projects: (1) In Tanzania, he implemented small-scale irrigation systems and developed screen house tomato growing techniques to enhance local farming practices; (2) In Ghana, he focused on urban-based snail and tomato production, introducing innovative farming methods in densely populated areas. (3) Most recently, Donald worked as a VWB/VSF VETS volunteer in Kenya, supporting extension agents and One Health champions at Wakulima Dairy, a cooperative that supports 8,500 small-scale farmers.
In this webinar, Donald discussed enhancing agricultural sustainability by integrating manure management and crop optimization techniques from field to feed, drawing on recent volunteer experience at Wakulima Dairy in Kenya.
