Interpretive Summary: Animal science for all

By: Antonella Baldi, Ricardo Ekmay

Animal agriculture has long been recognized as both widely accessible and adaptable to the diverse circumstances found around the world. It has served as a source of economic and cultural stability, while also offering opportunities for continued advancement. However, the relationship between people and animal agriculture is complex. In many cases, people groups that have played a foundational role in developing the industry are not fully recognized as stakeholders in its future.

Today’s global challenges demand an unprecedented mobilization of research and intellectual resources. Within this context, inclusion of diverse communities in agriculture is essential. Achieving this requires reducing inequalities in research, innovation, and education, as well as effectively communicating important and sometimes sensitive topics to scientists and students alike. Institutions designed to prepare future generations of animal scientists have often reflected the perspectives and priorities of the groups who originally developed these programs. A study by Carlson et al. (2024) on self-perceptions of belonging among undergraduate animal science students at Iowa State University found examples of effective inclusion practices but also revealed divides along urban/suburban/rural backgrounds, ethnic, and gender lines. Carlson indicated that “students identifying as Hispanic and female overall felt less included in classes, by peers, and with faculty at the start and after 2-yr within the department.” These findings underscore the importance of addressing ethics and values, alongside scientific facts, through inclusive approaches.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has identified gender equality as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5). Its recent report on the status of women in agrifood systems (FAO, 2023) notes that despite women’s active participation, their “roles tend to be marginalized and their working conditions are likely to be worse than men’s—irregular, informal, part-time, low-skilled, labour-intensive and thus vulnerable.” Further, although “women may not be systematically excluded from high-value, export-oriented value chains or from entrepreneurship in agrifood systems … their participation is usually constrained by discriminatory social norms and barriers to knowledge, assets, resources and social networks.” Similar themes are found in Pilgeram et al.’s (2022)  Women, Race, and Place in US Agriculture. Yet, these themes go beyond gender. In the United States, ­Casey, (2021), identified discrimination as a factor contributing to the decline in the number of farmers of color, as well as the loss of land and income among these producers. Many more examples could be described.

Against this backdrop, the articles in this issue of Animal Frontiers examine access to the animal sciences from multiple perspectives.

Read the full article in Animal Frontiers: Animal Science for All.