From Disaster to Resilience: Applying One Health Principles in the Recovery of Animal Production Systems in Brazil

Abstract This case study reports on the experience of an agricultural technical assistance program implemented in a territory affected by the collapse of the Fundão mining tailings dam, Mariana/MG, in 2015. The environmental disaster had profound repercussions on local agricultural production, causing problems such as lack of adequate vaccination, indiscriminate use of antibiotics, poor nutrition of herds, low animal welfare, precarious facilities, heat stress, degraded pastures, and low milk quality. To address these challenges, the technical assistance program was developed with the aim of mitigating the productive and environmental impacts of the disaster. Among the main results achieved are the creation of a vaccination schedule for herds and flocks, the implementation of an artificial insemination program to improve herd genetics, and the adoption of good milking practices and milk quality analysis. Improved pasture management was also carried out, including staking, fertilization, recovery of degraded areas, and afforestation, in addition to guidance on mineralization and herd nutrition. These advances demonstrate how the integration of sustainable practices and the One Health approach can promote animal, human and environmental health, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of the agricultural system affected by the disaster. Information © The Authors 2025