Reports:  Sustainability Actions Report

Table of Contents

Introduction

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has been rightly heralded as a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”, and at the core are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs recognize that “ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.” They are an urgent call to action for all stakeholders – from governments and business to NGOs and individuals.

The Animal Health sector – companies that manufacture products to better prevent, diagnose and treat animal disease, such as vaccines, parasiticides, predictive and monitoring tools, diagnostics and antibiotics – is embracing the global push to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The Members of HealthforAnimals represent approximately 90% of the Animal Health sector. Our ten companies work in nearly every country around the globe, operate international supply chains, employ tens of thousands of people, and touch the lives of over a billion farmers and pet owners.

Simply put – we have the networks, expertise and resources that can help advance the SDGs. Within this publication, you will find 60+ ways that HealthforAnimals Member Companies and Associations have embraced this responsibility. From cutting emissions to delivering nutrition to those in need, we believe these actions make a difference in the lives of people around us.
But, as is often said, the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved by one company or sector nor one country or region. It is only through coordinated, collaborative action that we can provide that ‘better and more sustainable future for all.’

The Animal Health sector is ready to build upon our actions, collaborate with others and be a champion for this global movement. We look forward to working with you in the years to come.

Carel du Marchie Sarvaas

Executive Director
HealthforAnimals

Marc Prikazsky

President, HealthforAnimals
CEO, Ceva Santé Animale

The Animal Health Sector has the networks and tools to help advance the Sustainable Development Goals across three areas. Click on the buttons below to see how we are taking clear, concrete and measure actions in each one.

Environment

Reducing the footprint of our operations and promoting a culture of sustainability

Health

Delivering better nutrition and healthier lives, while helping reduce hunger

Communities

Working with our employees and partners to provide more sustainable livelihoods

This is why we are taking an array of clear, concrete and measurable actions across the globe.

Supporting Environment

The 2010–2020 decade was the warmest ever on record, leading to a measurable rise in extreme weather events like floods and droughts. Farmers oftentimes bore the brunt of these occurrences, which is why the agriculture sector is considered ‘highly exposed’ to the impacts of climate change. Halting this trend requires rethinking how we produce food and supply the necessary inputs for agriculture. In the Animal Health sector, we are focused on both tasks.

On the farm, 20% of livestock are lost to disease each year. These losses are not only an animal welfare crisis, but mean natural resources such as feed, water and carbon emissions are spent for little to no benefit to our food supply.
HealthforAnimals Members invest nearly $3 billion each year in R&D to deliver new, innovative tools to improve how we monitor, prevent, diagnose and treat illness in animals. Every new product, such as smart sensors that monitor for fever, diagnostics powered by artificial intelligence or next generation vaccines, helps provide better health for the animal and a more sustainable farm.

Our sector recognizes that producing these tools also has an environmental impact. Developing new technologies requires energy, natural resources, and a global supply chain.

However, we’re applying the same innovative mindset that helps us tackle animal health challenges to our production processes and facilities. We are finding new efficiencies and challenging ‘the way it’s always been done’ so we can offer products that meet farmer and societal needs.

Reducing our own footprint means our products help support more sustainable animals, while strengthening the long-term resiliency of the Animal Health sector.

Although each HealthforAnimals Member company has a unique approach, all are aligned on the core mission – find new ways to better support our environment, not just through our customers but within our own companies.
Below is a sample of how we are putting this belief into action.

Highlights
Consumption
  • Virbac has pledged to reduce waste, water and energy consumption across facilities by 2025.
  • Zoetis has committed to 100% renewable energy use in facilities by 2050.
  • IDEXX facilities are meeting LEED and other global standards through solar arrays, energy recycling, and more.
  • ZENOAQ is reducing energy use within its head offices by 1% each year.

Emissions
  • Merck Animal Health is reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% by 2025.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim is making their Gainsville, GA, USA facility carbon neutral.
  • Elanco has pledged to help remove 21 million tons of emissions from their customers’ farms.

Recycling & Disposal
  • Phibro is cutting plastic usage while building a culture of recycling across facilities.
  • Vetoquinol is implementing ‘greener’ product packaging and shipment processes.

See more HealthforAnimals Member Activities that support our environment

Below is a sample of activities across the following SDGs:

Carbon Neutral Facility Conversion

Supports SDG12

Boehringer Ingelheim aims to make its Gainsville, Georgia production site fully carbon neutral by 2021, providing energy savings roughly equal to the emissions from a thousand homes. This work is a part of the company’s wider effort to deliver environmental improvements at its sites worldwide.

Initial actions at the Gainsville facility include installing solar panels, electric car charging stations, lower energy LED lighting and smart meters for energy consumption as well as retrofitting to reduce heat loss within buildings and green electricity purchases.

Committing to 2025 emission reduction targets

Supports SDG12

Merck Animal Health* has set science-based targets for emissions reductions and energy purchasing. Merck has committed to:

  • Sourcing 100 percent of their purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2040 with an interim goal of 50 percent by 2025.
  • Reducing Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 absolute GHG emissions by 40 percent from 2015 to 2025

Merck is working to achieve these goals by cutting waste in operations, reducing fuel use and seeking opportunities to shift from air shipping to ocean transport when practical. The company is also engaging with strategic suppliers to identify opportunities to reduce GHG emissions in their supply chain. From 2018 to 2019, Merck already reduced scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions by 10%.

Creating an internal ‘Energy Capital Fund’ to enable energy transitions

Supports SDG12

Merck Animal Health* has established an Energy Capital Fund of up to $12 million per year in order to transition to more energy-efficient technology and to better position the company to respond to energy demands in the future.

Since 2015, Merck sites have completed more than 70 projects through the Capital Fund. This has saved over $6 million per year, averaging a payback of only three years and avoiding the production of 23,000 metric tons of carbon per year.

GHG reduction commitments

Supports SDG12 and 13

Virbac has pledged to reduce its ‘Scope 1 and Scope 2’ greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2025. These are direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases related to energy consumption on all industrial sites worldwide, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions related to refrigerants. Steps taken to date include:

  • Installation of energy recovery system on the effluent treatment plant for biological production units (Carros, France) and a solar boiler for industrial hot water (Mexico)
  • Replacing lighting with LEDs on almost all industrial sites
  • Reinforcing maintenance plans at industrial sites in Australia and France for refrigerant gas

This has led to a decrease in Virbac’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 6% from 2018 to 2019 and by 8% since 2017.

‘Greener’ Packaging

Supports SDG12

Vetoquinol is working towards ‘greener’ product packaging by improving both the product itself and the transportation process. This includes reducing package weight, integrating more recyclable material and optimizing the number of products on pallets to reduce overall shipments.

Decreasing footprint through facility upgrades

Supports SDG6 and 12

Phibro Animal Health in Brazil has upgraded their production facility equipment in recent years to decrease environmental impacts. New wastewater treatment equipment that has reduced volume by 40%, installation of an economizer has delivered a considerable reduction in gas generation, and new compressors are lowering electricity consumption.

In the United States, Phibro began water recycling at one of its manufacturing sites approximately ten years ago. This has saved approximately 300,000 gallons of water per year for a total of three million gallons of water saved over a ten-year period. This project has had the additional benefit of saving energy by reducing the need to pump additional water into the system.

Delivering measurable improvement in energy, natural resource use and emissions

Supports SDG12

Zoetis has implemented programs across facilities worldwide to improve how the company uses energy and natural resources. This includes:

  • India: Conversion to LED lighting site-wide and enhancements to operating systems resulted in a 12% reduction in electricity use between 2013 and 2018 — enough to serve the electricity needs of 500+ households annually in India and reduce carbon emissions by 6 tons per year. Zoetis also contributed 1,500 new trees to the Indian government’s Mass Tree Plantation campaign, helping to increase CO2 absorption by 33 tons per year. By implementing a rainwater harvesting program, the site achieved 1,100 kiloliters in annual water savings; enough water to serve the needs of 8,000+ people.
  • Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: High Efficiency 85% prefilters were installed to reduce annual site emissions by of 20,000 lbs of CO2 (~9 tons), while Belimo Smart Valves were installed on two large air handling units to cut energy use and save approximately 1,268,000 lbs of CO2 per year (~575 tons).
  • Catania, Italy: Manufacturing and supply colleagues initiated a project which resulted in energy saving through the fermentation process air demand optimization. This led to an 8.5% reduction in airflow demand, leading to a reduction of 600 tons per year in CO2 emissions.

Environmental efforts across Zoetis have allow the company to reduce its emissions intensity by 4% from 2017 to 2019.

Fostering a culture of recycling and reducing waste

Supports SDG12

Phibro Animal Health in Brazil operates several programs which aim to cut waste:

  • ‘Recyclable Collectors Program’, promotes communication, training, sustainability dialogues for waste reduction, environmental awareness, knowledge of sustainability and the correct way to dispose waste.
  • Plastic Cups Program has provided all employees with reusable drinking containers, which has reduced consumption of disposable, plastic cups by 80%.
  • Used Cooking Oil Recycling program partnered with a local environment NGO to launch monthly collection drives where employees and the surrounding community can donate any used cooking oil, which is subsequently recycled into soap and promotes a circular economy.

In the United States, employees in the Phibro Research Center implemented a pipet tip recycling program. As a laboratory facility, pipets are used in large quantities and can be a potential source of waste.

The Phibro Research Center partnered with Terracycle to implement their “Pipet Tip Box Recycling Program” where pipets are shipped to Terracycle where the plastic waste is ground, melted, and pelletized through extrusion by to create recycled resin. The resin is then combined with other recycled plastics to make park benches and other eco-friendly products.

These programs across countries have not only reduced Phibro’s facility footprint, but has helped create a culture of recycling within the Phibro offices and local communities.

Increasing use of renewable energy use

Supports SDG12

Merck Animal Health* has committed to sourcing 100 percent of their purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2040 with an interim goal of 50 percent by 2025.

Investing in improved water conservation

Supports SDG12 and 13

In 2019, Merck Animal Health* invested $51 million to fund projects that included the treatment of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), upgrades to biological wastewater treatment systems, and upgrades to stormwater collection systems. That same year, the company used 20.3 million cubic meters of water globally, versus 23.9 million cubic meters in 2015, representing a 15 percent reduction in water use.

Implementing Eco-design

Supports SDG12 and 13

Boehringer Ingelheim has committed to integrate circular economy principles in all future product developments through ‘Eco-Design’ and Green Chemistry Processes. Eco-design is the integration of environmental considerations into product design and development with the aim of reducing environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle. It considers environmental impacts of the entire value chain of products, from resource extraction until final disposal. BI’s objective is for 100% of new products to be designed with eco-friendly criteria by 2030.

Improving resource efficiency of facilities

Supports SDG12

As a growing company, IDEXX is committed to responsibly managing the environmental footprint of their facilities including administrative offices, customer support centers, reference laboratories, research and development space, manufacturing, and distribution centers. Their global facilities management team is dedicated to reducing energy and water usage, advancing sustainable waste disposal and recycling, and creating healthy workplaces for their employees.

IDEXX’s Synergy East facility, which opened in 2020, is the second building on their World Campus built to LEED Gold standards. The building has a rooftop solar array, rainwater collection system, and dynamic glass for low-energy temperature control.

IDEXX’s new Kornwestheim facility meets, and in some areas exceeds, European Union green building standards. The building features plate-to-plate heat exchangers that recover 72% of energy from exhaust air and reuse it for heating and cooling. The entire site uses 100% LED lighting. All employees have sit-to-stand workstations with access to daylight, creating a healthy workspace imbued with natural light.

Innovation in Bioremediation

Supports SDG6 and 12

Phibro Animal Health has helped advance bioremediation as a tool for addressing environmental contaminants. The technology can help with clean-up and elimination of pollutants in soil and water. Phibro has focused on removal of nitrogenous compounds, which is important as excessive ammonia and nitrite/nitrate levels can be detrimental to air, soil and water quality, and human and animal health. These bioremediation tools are often used on farms (i.e. manure pits, lagoons), poultry and meat processing plants, food processing plants as well as in petroleum refinery applications.

Meeting environmental efficiency goals

Supports SDG6 and 12

Elanco Animal Health is committed to continuous improvement at their own facilities and continue striving to complete the commitments Elanco sites made under the framework of Eli Lilly and Company’s 2020 environmental efficiency goals. In 2018 and 2019 this delivered results at facilities such as:

  • Reducing water usage by 66 million in Clinton, USA
  • Reducing CO2 emissions 43% in Wusi, China through improved boiler efficiency
  • Installing evaporation treatment to virtually eliminate active pharmaceutical ingredient discharge in Huningue, France
  • Sending only 1% of all site waste to a landfill in Speke, UK

Moving to Renewable Energy and Natural Gas

Supports SDG12

Boehringer Ingelheim’s largest manufacturing plant in the United States, located in St Joseph, Missouri, has transitioned to renewable wind energy. Their R&D site in North Brunswick, New Jersey has fully transitioned to renewable energy by purchasing green power. Furthermore, their site in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico plans to reduce its carbon footprint by about 30 percent a year by using natural gas to generate electricity. That process will create steam and hot water that the site will use in its everyday operations

Obsolete and Unwanted Medication Collection

Supports SDG12

In partnership with the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA), the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) offers free-of-charge medications return programs to collect and properly dispose of consumer health products including veterinary medicines and animal health products. The HPSA returns programs are offered in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. The program helps ensure safe disposal through high temperature incineration, which keeps left over products out of landfills and waterways.

Offering free medicine disposal and recycling programs in Canada

Supports SDG12

In 2014, the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) partnered with CleanFarms to offer Canadian livestock and horse owners a national program to collect and safely dispose of unwanted and/or expired animal medications. This unique program offers farmers, ranchers and horse owners an environmentally responsible way to dispose of unwanted or expired product, free of charge across Canada, which helps keep products out of landfills. Since program inception, almost 50,000 kg of unwanted product has been collected.

Optimizing product packaging

Supports SDG12

Virbac is committed to optimizing product packages to avoid waste and develop innovation capable of reducing packaging. This is challenging because packaging that comes in contact with medicines is subject to strict quality standards that limit the use of recycled materials.
However, the company is focused on eco-design principles for secondary or tertiary packaging in partnership with its suppliers. This has reduced petfood packaging by 40% and enabled 100% use of recycled materials for overpack boxes at the primary Virbac production site in France.

Planet Pledge

Supports SDG12 and 13

As part of their 2030 sustainability commitments, Elanco Animal Health pledged to remove 21 million tons of emissions from their customers’ farms while reducing their own impact on the planet. Elanco intends to achieve this by growing their product portfolio, partnering with customers on their journey to Net Zero, generating 100% of electricity across operations from renewable sources and accelerating towards sustainable packaging.

Pledging to measurable energy reductions

Supports SDG12

Virbac has pledged to reduce their energy consumption by 5% by 2025 and has been working towards this goal through improvements at sites around the globe.

In France, an energy savings plan focused on improved temperature management, use of a heat recovery unit in waste treatment, and installation of insulation on steam circuits reduced electricity consumption by 37% over the last 11 years at their Carros, France facility.

In Australia, thanks to the installation of solar panels and optimized power management, Virbac sites in Penrith and Crockwell have reduced their electricity consumption by 28% over a seven-year period and gas consumption by 32% over the same period.

Pledging to measurable energy reductions

Supports SDG12

Virbac has pledged to reduce their energy consumption by 5% by 2025 and has been working towards this goal through improvements at sites around the globe.

In France, an energy savings plan focused on improved temperature management, use of a heat recovery unit in waste treatment, and installation of insulation on steam circuits reduced electricity consumption by 37% over the last 11 years at their Carros, France facility.

In Australia, thanks to the installation of solar panels and optimized power management, Virbac sites in Penrith and Crockwell have reduced their electricity consumption by 28% over a seven-year period and gas consumption by 32% over the same period.

Pledging to measurable energy reductions

Supports SDG12

Virbac has pledged to reduce their energy consumption by 5% by 2025 and has been working towards this goal through improvements at sites around the globe.

In France, an energy savings plan focused on improved temperature management, use of a heat recovery unit in waste treatment, and installation of insulation on steam circuits reduced electricity consumption by 37% over the last 11 years at their Carros, France facility.

In Australia, thanks to the installation of solar panels and optimized power management, Virbac sites in Penrith and Crockwell have reduced their electricity consumption by 28% over a seven-year period and gas consumption by 32% over the same period.

Recycling Packaging for Decreased Waste and Fewer Emissions

Supports SDG6 and 12

Zoetis’ US facilities have transitioned from Styrofoam coolers used for transporting vaccines (which require stable temperatures to maintain potency) to fully recyclable shipping coolers. This implementation will save 72,000 gallons of fuel, 750,000 ft of landfill space and 1.6M lbs of carbon emissions. Zoetis has also launched a Packaging Council, a cross-functional team to influence sustainability considerations into packaging decisions. These types of steps have helped Zoetis reduce their GHG emissions intensity by 4% from 2017–2019.

Reducing Company-Wide Water Consumption

Supports SDG6 and 12

Virbac has pledged to lower water consumption across its facilities. In France, recycling or production facilities for various grades of water has reduced consumption by almost 12% in the last 11 years. Actions to optimize the cleaning of production equipment at the St. Louis site in the United States and Guadalajara in Mexico has reduced water consumption by 19% and 29% respectively. These efforts produced a net decrease in company-wide water use from 2018 to 2019.

Reducing Waste Generation by 2025

Supports SDG12

Virbac has pledged to reduce their total amount of waste generated by 2025. Controlling waste volumes begins at the research and development stage by considering treatment application methods to limit wastage and residues that could harm the environment. From there, Virbac tracks all hazardous waste up to the point of disposal while seeking to control volumes generated and improve collection for treatment or recycling. This delivered a reduction in total quantity of waste by 7% from 2018 to 2019, driven by a 16% reduction in hazardous industrial waste.

Refining Bioprocess Technology Operations

Supports SDG12

By using platform technologies to standardize processes and reduce complexity in manufacturing, Boehringer Ingelheim is enabling more environmentally friendly production. These methods are allowing facilities to produce smaller, but higher yielding, batches of vaccine antigen, which means production increases while water use, waste generation and manufacturing footprint falls. Steps such as conversion from roller bottles to bioreactors in production and using technology that requires significantly less energy and/or water intensive sterilization, are enabling this activity.

Sourcing Renewable and Cleaner Energy

Supports SDG12

In 2021, Zoetis joined REI100, an initiative for companies committed to 100% renewable electricity use. This action means the company has pledged to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050.

Taking action within production plants to reduce waste, water and energy use

Supports SDG6 and 12

In recent years, Vetoquinol has taken action to reduce the environmental impact of production through waste, water and emission reductions within their plants. This includes:

  • Reducing single use plastics and improving recycling of plastic, metal and glass.
  • Cutting water use through facility upgrades such as cooling closed circuits for production equipment and replacement of water-cooling systems with ones powered by air.
  • Achieving ISO 50001 certification each year since 2014.
    Updating lighting, HVAC and building design for more efficient energy use.

Vetoquinol is working to define specific targets for each of these areas in the near future.

Targeting annual reductions in energy use

Supports SDG12

Within their head offices, Zenoaq has set a goal of reducing energy use by an average of 1% or more per year to continually improve how they use resources, reduce emissions and minimize the impact of their productions and processes on the environment. Zenoaq is achieving this by switching company owned vehicles to eco-friendly, hybrid cars (80% or more by end of 2020), switching energy sources to renewables and natural gas, and improving conversation efforts (e.g. installing LED lighting).

Reducing supplier emissions

Supports SDG12

Merck Animal Health*, is working with suppliers to drive positive change in their emissions footprint. By 2020, Merck will engage with suppliers to request they identify GHG emissions reduction opportunities and by 2025, Merck expected more than 90% of strategy suppliers with the highest environmental impacts will set their own GHG emission reduction targets.

Supporting ‘Blue Box’ Recycling Programs in Canada

Supports SDG12

Recycling programs (also known as ‘Blue Box programs’) across Canada are regulated by the provincial governments. In all of those provinces, the manufacturers and distributors of products are required to offset recycling program costs through Enhanced Consumer Responsibility (EBR) programs. The members of the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) contribute to these programs and meet provincial requirements for volume reporting of various packaging materials. Understanding the importance of reducing packaging materials, many CAHI members have gone further to make individual corporate commitments to reducing paper and plastic packaging.

Wastewater COD level reductions

Supports SDG6 and 12

Virbac aims to reduce the proportion of ‘chemical oxygen demand’ (COD), a pollutant in discharged industrial water, through improved wastewater treatment and equipment cleaning. From 2018 to 2019, the quantity of COD discharged decreased significantly (-23%) due to site improvements at facilities in Carros, France and the United States.

Supporting Communities

From 1990 to 2015, extreme poverty plummeted from 36% to 10%. It was a testament to the power of concentrated, coordinated action by the public and private sectors to grow economies, deliver education and strengthen resiliency.

However, according to the United Nations the “pace of change is decelerating” and the fallout from Covid-19 “risks reversing decades of progress.” In addition, the World Bank estimates climate change will drive 68 to 132 million more people into poverty over the next decade.

We must redouble our efforts, and in many regions, it starts with livestock farming.

At least 1.3 billion people rely on animal agriculture for their livelihood and food security. Livestock provide labour for their farms, nutrition for their families, and economic growth for their regions. These animals a cornerstone of rural communities, and when they are lost to illness, it reverberates.

The Animal Health sector can deliver products, from vaccines and diagnostics to nutritional supplements and parasiticides, that protect livestock and strengthen the surrounding community.

Many health issues currently go undiagnosed due to lack of veterinary access, education and infrastructure, which threatens our ability to achieve key SDGs. It is why we are taking action.

This work helps support rural communities where farming is a core part of life. However, our efforts must go beyond just our agricultural partners. HealthforAnimals Members also have a responsibility to our employees and the neighbourhoods where they live and work.

Their resilience is essential to the long-term success of any company. It’s why we are also implementing programs such as beautification campaigns, donations to social action campaigns, and leadership initiatives that support our staff and the vibrant communities they inhabit.

Although each HealthforAnimals Member approaches the challenges of the coming decade differently, all understand that strong communities can unite to deliver a more prosperous, sustainable world. Below is a sample of how we are putting this understanding into action.

Highlights
Livelihoods
  • Elanco launched the ‘East Africa Growth Accelerator’ that helps improve farmer incomes in the region.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim’s Last Mile program is helping livestock farmers in six African nations build more sustainable businesses.
  • Phibro Animal Health’s ‘Cattle Raising Insight’ project in Brazil helps farmers generate higher productivity and efficiency.
  • Zoetis’ A.L.P.H.A. project provides trainings to hundreds of thousands of farmers to improve their livestock health, while strengthening local infrastructure.

Education
  • CEVA Sante Animale partnered with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to train veterinarians in Bangladesh and Ethiopia on improved poultry disease control.
  • Merck Animal Health’s* Veterinary Student Scholarship Program has awarded over US$4.5 million in grants across 850 scholarships in recent years.
  • ZENOAQ has operated the ‘Shakunage Assembly’ in Japan since 1969 to train 1000+ livestock veterinarians and technicians across 36 prefectures each year.
  • The IDEXX Tuskegee Scholars Fund has provided $3.6 million for scholarships, mental support and emergency funding for veterinary students in need.

See more HealthforAnimals Member Activities that Support our Communities

Below is a sample of activities across the following SDGs:

Empowering farmers through the East Africa Growth Accelerator

Supports SDG1, 2 and 8

Livestock disease is a significant threat to achieving food security globally and in East Africa, 25 percent of livestock currently raised are lost due to animal illness. Launched in 2017 with a $3.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Elanco East Africa Growth Accelerator shared value initiative aims to empower farmers with the knowledge and medicine they need to care for animals and enable the growth of their communities, reducing animal mortality and poverty, increasing farmer’s income and improving diets and health of local families. In one year alone (2017–2018), the EAGA delivered $8.2 million in socio-economic value to farmers in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

Helping veterinarians to support emerging commercial poultry farmers

Supports SDG4 and 8

In 2015, Ceva Sante Animale received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to manage a project to provide specialist training on poultry diseases and their control to a total of 180 vets in Bangladesh and Ethiopia. The objective was to increase the veterinarian’s individual and collective capacity so they could better support emerging commercial poultry farmers.
To date, 90 veterinarians in Bangladesh and 60 in Ethiopia have successfully completed the training course. Facebook discussion groups have been formed to enable the vets to keep in touch and continue to support each other as a community of practice. In addition, the most able veterinarians have been selected for further training and mentoring by the international experts so they can now serve as trainers to future cohorts of veterinarians wishing to gain the knowledge and expertise needed to enable them to support commercial poultry farmers in their respective countries.

Improving veterinary access by bridging the ‘Last Mile’

Supports SDG1, 4 and 8

With the support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and GALVmed, Boehringer Ingelheim’s ‘Last Mile’ initiative aims at developing a long-term sustainable model that bridges current gaps in access, availability, and awareness of animal healthcare solutions for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Last Mile’s goals are to:

  • Improve smallholder farmer access to high quality veterinary products & services
  • Increase productivity of livestock
  • Increase income for livestock farmers and help alleviate poverty
  • Increase the availability of affordable animal protein

The project was initially launched in Kenya in 2018 and is currently in the scale up and extension phase to other key markets such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, with a plan to expand in Tanzania. The initiative targets ruminants, such as sheep, goats along with cattle, and poultry.

Last Mile’s mission is to create long-lasting partnerships with the local farming community to establish and drive sustainable businesses that are integrated into the wider national economy.

Increasing access to veterinary medicines and services in sub-Saharan Africa

Supports SDG1, 2, 4 and 8

Co-funded with a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Zoetis A.L.P.H.A. initiative began in 2017 with a goal of advancing livestock health in sub-Saharan Africa and positively impacting farmer livelihoods. The Initiative was first launched in Uganda and Nigeria, followed by Ethiopia in 2018 and Tanzania in 2019, and works to increase availability of veterinary medicines and services and strengthen disease diagnostics infrastructure. To-date, the A.L.P.H.A. Initiative has helped:

  • Deliver hundreds of millions of doses of animal health products;
  • Reach over 500,000 people with trainings on nutrition, disease detection and other health issues;
  • Reach almost 400,000 people (40% of whom were women) with trainings on professional development and business skills to help ensure sustainable veterinary operations;
  • Develop and upgraded facilities of nine diagnostic laboratories across Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania in collaboration with strategic private and public partners.

Lifelong learning initiatives for professionals

Supports SDG4

ZENOAQ believes that for the veterinary medicine and livestock sectors to be sustainable, there must be places for veterinarians and livestock technicians active in clinical practice to receive post-graduate education. The company has undertaken activities to support this goal such as:

  • Establishing the “Shakunage Assembly” in 1969 to help livestock veterinarians and breeding technicians improve their skills and exchange knowledge. At present, there are ten regional “Shakunage Assemblies” covering 36 prefectures, with 1,100 participants each year. It is the only private company training session that has been recognized by the Japan Veterinary Medical Association as a “Veterinary Lifelong Training Program”.
  • Inviting 50 young and mid-career veterinarians to the annual ZENOAQ Extension Seminar for two days of intensive training in cooperation with veterinary colleges.
  • In cooperation with the Asian College of Veterinary Dermatology, ZENOAQ has been organizing training sessions by Asian dermatologists in Beijing and Shanghai, China, since 2014 to promote dermatological expertise.
  • ZENOAQ has been financially supporting the Japan Veterinary Medical Specialty Scholarship Fund established in 2012 as a gold sponsor since its establishment. This scholarship is for attending specialist education at Colorado State University in the United States.

These activities support a well-educated veterinary workforce, which can help improve their livelihood and lead to better outcomes for the animals they treat.

Local Environment Enhancement Activities

Supports SDG11

For decades, ZENOAQ employee volunteers at offices across Japan take time every year to pick up trash in their community and improve the local area. In August 2020, the Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism recognized this work with an award honoring the many years of activity. ZENOAQ believes this work raises environmental awareness amongst employees and demonstrates respect for their local community.

Making a difference project

Supports SDG1, 2 and 17

The Making a Difference Project is an internal project by Phibro Animal Health that supports social actions in the Communities close to Phibro Sites in Brazil. Since 2007, the company has matched employee donations to a monthly fundraiser that helps local nursing homes, NGOs, schools and more. Project leaders also conduct annual activities such as food donations, toys for underprivileged children, and entrepreneurship workshops (crafts, cooking) to promote a source of income for these families.

The Project also includes the donation of Phibro computers to teenagers’ institutions, literary picnic (we bring children from the community and our employees to read books to them), support of the community garden, sustainability lectures made by Phibro employees, and the contribution of sporting equipment and improvements in local areas. Altogether, these activities allow Phibro employees to partner together, act locally and give back to their surrounding community.

Monthly sustainability dialogue program

Supports SDG17

For almost four years, Phibro Animal Health has led and internal ‘Sustainability Dialogue Program’ that aims to increase knowledge about sustainability and related issues to employees and the surrounding community. These dialogues bring together participants to encourage greater collaboration and implementation of environmentally friendly practices.

“Pecuária do Conhecimento” (Cattle Raising Insight)

Supports SDG8

The ‘Pecuária do Conhecimento’ project was created in 2012 by Phibro Brasil and developed by the Hill Regional Pole of the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (Apta), of the Agriculture Secretariat and Supply of the State of São Paulo. The project offers theoretical and practical classes for farm owners, employees, technicians from nutrition companies and field consultants. The objective is to promote good practices and generate higher levels of productivity and economic efficiency in livestock projects.

Since 2012, more than 100 trainings were carried out, bringing together teams from 40 animal nutrition industries, consultants, producer associations in the most important regions in Brazil. This work has generated value economic opportunities for farmers and veterinarians in the region.

Providing Hands-On Experiences to Students

Supports SDG4

Phibro Animal Health offers an internship program that provides students with a first-person, hands-on experience in animal sciences, veterinary, communications, and marketing. This helps them to further their education, while making connections via networking that will be beneficial to them and others in the future.

For example, interns at the Phibro US vaccine manufacturing facility will work with technical service veterinarians, farm veterinarians, and the farm managers/owners. These interns work directly on the farm to gather information typically used for a research project and presentation, giving them hands-on, real-world experiences at the field level.

Phibro also employs interns that will work in vaccine diagnostics and manufacturing, as well as the sales and technical services for animal health and nutrition for multiple species. These internships give students a more complete understanding of the multiple products and avenues available to optimize animal health and nutrition for better lives and a more sustainable world.

Offering educational training to animal caretakers

Supports SDG8

Merck Animal Health* offers educational training programs to animal caretakers through its 365 programs.

Aqua Care365 ensures their employees working with fish understand typical behaviors and can handle and treat fish with the best quality care. CattleCare365 provides training for beef cattle caretakers who want to keep their livestock safe, productive and healthy and is designed to inspire a culture of care throughout the beef cattle community. Dairy Care365 trains dairy farm caretakers on key practices and help fulfill the animal care requirements of the National Dairy FARM Program, Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) and various dairy cooperatives and processors.

Serving rural farmers in Ghana

Supports SDG1, 4 and 8

In Ghana, the Boehringer Ingelheim Making More Health (MMH) initiative is supporting the social company, Cowtribe, with on the ground expertise and financial backing as it works to deliver veterinarian services to rural farmers in Ghana. These rural areas are mostly uncovered by governmental or commercial animal care, and providing basic treatments ensures the income to many farmers, allowing them to invest in their own and family health.

During the last three years, more than 34,000 rural farmers could be served with affordable and good quality medical treatments through Cowtribe. Cowtribe opened local Fulfillment Centers to improve supply chain and distribution efficiencies and thereby making quality medication available in rural areas. With the latest MMH funding (May 2020) the network of Fulfillment Centers will be expanded and the more farmers will be reached.

Supporting small-scale dairy farmers in Brazil

Supports SDG1, 2 and 8

In recent years, Zoetis conducted a three-year project to help farmers in Brazil’s Paraíba River Valley to improve milk production by teaching them modern farm management practices, including how to measure costs and profits, improve feed production and advance reproductive management. This resulted in a 19% increase in production, 20% increase in profits and higher quality of milk for participants.

Strengthening women and under-represented ethnic group representation

Supports SDG5 and 8

At Merck Animal Health* leaders and managers have clear diversity and inclusion goals included as part of their annual performance reviews. In addition, the company utilizes specific, time-bound action plans with targets to increase the representation of women globally and UEGs in the U.S. leadership positions. In addition, Merck has diversity metrics and review progress against aspirational talent goals for women and UEGs at the most senior levels of the organization.

Taking local action for improved education

Supports SDG4

ZENOAQ believes that providing educational support to students in their community builds long-term sustainability for the region. Educated children, teens and adults that are interested in science-related fields provide the foundation for a future workforce that can grow the community. ZENOAQ helps achieve this goal through activities such as:

  • For five years and counting, ZENOAQ has hosted its annual ‘ZENOAQ Science Workshop’ for students in their local community.
  • ZENOAQ partners with local veterinary medical associations to offer ‘veterinary work experience’ events for students.
  • Yangzhou University, department of veterinary medicine in China and ZENOAQ formed a strategic partnership in 2016 and have been providing ZENOAQ scholarships since that year.
  • ZENOAQ employees volunteer four times per year at local elementary schools.

These activities are highly targeted at ZENOAQ’s local area and demonstrates their commitment to its sustainability.

‘Time to Vaccinate’

Supports SDG8

Recently, Merck Animal Health* launched Time to Vaccinate, a program designed to help farmers in Europe better recognize the benefits of vaccinating their cattle as a preventative tool. Time to Vaccinate supports farmers who have already adopted vaccination, as well as farmers who want to know more about how vaccination can improve productivity and animal health. By adopting these preventative tools, farmers can reduce disease incidence on their farms, minimize losses and, therefore, increase productivity and cut their environmental footprint.

‘The Convenience Program’

Supports SDG8

Respiratory disease is a global threat to the health of poultry flocks. Merck Animal Health* has partnered with veterinarians and poultry producers to ensure an early start on disease prevention to maintain healthy flocks. The Convenience Program is a training-based program designed to help poultry producers optimize vaccination processes and improve chick health. By improving the health of their animals, producers can reduce losses and natural resource use (e.g. feed and water), which ultimately means more resilient livelihoods and a reduced environmental footprint for their operation.

Tuskegee Scholars Fund

Supports SDG4, 8 and 10

In early 2021, IDEXX announced an initiative with the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), which it intends to support by a contribution of $3.6 million over six years from the IDEXX Foundation, a donor-advised fund administered by a national donor-advised fund program. This intended support represents the IDEXX Foundation’s inaugural investment as part of a larger effort to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine.

The TUCVM initiative is designed to drive comprehensive and positive outcomes for diversifying the veterinary field. The initiative includes nine full scholarships, mental health support for veterinary students, emergency funding for students in need, and monies for important capital improvements at the TUCVM facilities. Each of these elements was identified through engagement with the TUCVM leadership to maximize the positive impacts of this meaningful collaboration.

Veterinary Student Scholarship Program

Supports SDG4

Merck Animal Health* supports future veterinarians around the world through their Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. From 2013 to 2019, the company awarded over $4.5 million in grants across 850 scholarships and in 2019, Merck awarded $1 million in grants and partnered with 11 non-profit organizations. In addition, Merck Animal Health supports the scientific research of a promising young veterinarian with a €10,000 grant through the Gustav Rosenberger Memorial Fund.

Women’s Leadership Program

Supports SDG5 and 8

The Women’s Leadership Program (WFLP) is a global nomination program by Merck Animal Health* designed to support the advancement of women into senior leadership ranks. Areas of focus include strengthening the ability to navigate within the organization; gaining skills and knowledge to grow and improve leadership capacity; and increasing the ability to manage gender differences and any subtle “micro-inequities” that may exist in the culture. The program also increases exposure to senior leaders and creates a sense of community for high-potential women.

Importantly, alumnae from the WLP have gathered at an annual conference for the past three years. The third Annual Women’s Leadership Alumnae Conference was held in 2019, with upwards of 700 senior women in attendance. It provided an important opportunity for women leaders to build relationships, network and support each other as they advance in their careers.

Zoetis-AAVMC Veterinary Student Scholarship Program

Supports SDG1, 4 and 8

Zoetis and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) have been partnering for over 11 years to provide scholarships to second- and third-year veterinary students in the United States and Caribbean. Recipients of the Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Awards each receive $2,000 for the upcoming academic year and, to date, the Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship program has awarded over 3,300 scholarships totalling more than $6.7 million.

The Zoetis-AAVMC scholarships help contribute to inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for young veterinary professionals by helping to offset the costs of education and considering diversity among awarded candidates.

Eligibility criteria include academic excellence, financial need, diversity, sustainability, leadership and career interest. Scholarships are awarded to students in all areas of professional interest, including food animal medicine, small animal clinical medicine, research, government services, public health, and organized veterinary medicine. Among 2020 recipients, over 34% came from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds.

Supporting Health

Today, 690 million people go to bed hungry every night, while 1 in 5 children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition. These numbers are only expected to rise in the wake of Covid-19.

Furthermore, the world is undergoing a silent crisis. Societies are drastically underinvesting in mental health according to the WHO, and 264 million suffer from depression worldwide.

Sustainability providing for future populations means offering better care for our physical and mental well-being, and animals can play a central role.

Micronutrients like calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin A provide the building blocks for development in our early years and resilient minds in our adulthood.

For many, foods from livestock – milk, meat, eggs and fish – are a valuable, convenient way to get these nutrients and in developing regions, they are often the only way. However, we know access remains a challenge in many areas.

And while proper diets are the cornerstone of a sustainable future, nourishing both our physical and mental health, the animals around us can deliver not just health, but happiness and well-being.

Pets are a proven way to increase physical activity and strengthen our mental health, while assistance animals play a vital role in supporting the vulnerable in our society. In developing areas, dog-mediated rabies remains a persistent threat despite the availability of effective canine vaccines.

The Animal Health sector is donating resources to help deliver nutrition to those in need, enhance the benefits of companion animals to our lives, and strengthen the mental wellbeing of our employees and veterinary partners.

Each HealthforAnimals Member is taking on our responsibilities in a different way, but all understand that good health is synonymous with a sustainable future. Below is a sampling of how we put this understanding into action.

Highlights
Nutrition
  • Ceva Sante Animale’s ‘Egg a Day’ program is helping address malnutrition by delivering better nutrition through eggs to children in South America and Asia.
  • Elanco Animal Health pledged to create more resilient food systems by enabling 57 million more people to better access their annual nutritious protein needs through their ‘Protein Pledge’

Companion Animals
  • Boehringer Ingelheim supports canine rabies eradication efforts in nations like Mexico and Pakistan through vaccine donations and community education.
  • ZENOAQ collaborates with the Japan Service Dog Resource Center to help train service dog trainers, breed and raise more service dogs, and donate products for their veterinary care

Mental Wellbeing
  • Zoetis works with Beyond Blue in Australia to help deliver mental health services in rural communities.
  • Merck Animal Health has partnered with American Veterinary Medical Association to measure and improve veterinary mental health, including a $100,000 commitment to a Workplace Wellbeing program.

See more HealthforAnimals Member Activities that Support our Health

Below is a sample of activities across the following SDGs:

Aiding in the Covid-19 Pandemic Response

Supports SDG3

During the Covid-19 pandemic, IDEXX worked to improve monitoring and control of the virus. In April 2020, IDEXX made a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) test available for pets, while working with experts and organizations such as American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 One Health Working Group to amplify aligned messaging on COVID-19 risks, management, and testing guidelines. Bringing evidence-based data to the conversation helped the veterinary community manage the concerns of their teams, clients, and patients.

IDEXX also delivered a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test to fill the urgent need for more human diagnostics early in the pandemic in areas as diverse as Ireland to Maine to Indonesia. In some regions, IDEXX helped convert livestock laboratories into COVID-19 testing centers. IDEXX’s Water team also developed an application for detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus in untreated wastewater, creating an important epidemiological tool for public health officials to determine the spread of the pandemic.

Animal-Assisted Interventions

Supports SDG3

Since 2010, Ceva Sante Animale has been supporting a wide range of organizations working in the field of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) worldwide. This ongoing support has grown over the past decade and has now become a major global theme for the company. Ten years on, Ceva provides practical, financial and in-kind support as well as championing AAIs that address the wellbeing of both the human and animal partner. Activities to-date include:

  • Supporting research into animal-assisted interventions to increase understanding of the approach and to enable evidence-based improvements to be made.
  • Helping to bring together AAI researchers and practitioners to facilitate exchange of ideas and experiences.
  • Direct support to AAI programs across multiple continents to enable them to extend benefits of the approach to even more people living with a range of challenging life-long conditions. This includes groups such as Dogs for Good in the UK, Handi’chiens and Chiens Guides Grand Sud-Ouest in France, Humlamaden Rehabilitation Centre in Sweden, Assistance Dogs Australia and Associação de Equoterapia de Campinas in Brazil.

Looking ahead, Ceva is keen to build on work already underway by supporting research partners to help develop compelling evidence demonstrating the economic as well as social and medical benefits of AAIs. It is hoped this will enable more health and social care providers to include AAIs alongside other proven interventions, mainstreaming the approach and making the work of AAIs more sustainable and available.

Caring for Bali’s community canines

Supports SDG2 and 3

Dogs are common members of the community in Bali, Indonesia, and often roam free around their owners’ homes or further into their neighbourhoods. Their social lifestyle, however, can make it difficult for owners to maintain their dogs’ wellness and prevent rabies. To address this challenge, Merck Animal Health* partnered with the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) in a project called Program Dharma.

The Program applies One Health principles to improve the welfare of dogs in Balinese communities and protect human health through rabies disease awareness and education on how to prevent the disease through canine vaccination. These efforts are not only contributing to improved overall wellness for Balinese dogs but are also positively impacting public health on the island. Merck’s 2020 goal was to vaccinate 400,000 dogs in Bali for rabies through this partnership.

Cracking child malnutrition: an egg a day for vulnerable children

Supports SDG2 and 3

In 2012, Ceva Sante Animale’s offices in Argentina began supplying eggs to Centres for Child Nutrition (CONIN), a not-for-profit foundation which aims to prevent and cure malnutrition especially amongst poor families with young children. What began as a local initiative has since grown in Argentina and to Ceva offices around the world.

In Argentina, Ceva eventually partnered with CAPIA – the Argentina Chamber of Poultry Producers – to supply CONIN with 180,000 eggs per year. The program was named the ‘One Egg Per Day’ campaign and since then other major producers and distributors have joined to increase its reach.

In 2018, Ceva Managers in eleven Asian countries launched the ‘C our Future’ campaign with the tagline ‘breaking the cycle of child stunting’. The programme has also been launched in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and will be extended to all Asian countries where Ceva is present.

Global action to support Zero by 30

Supports SDG3 and 17

The World Health Organisation has set a goal to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030 (‘Zero by 2030’) and Boehringer Ingelheim is working to support these efforts. The company focuses on sustainable, holistic solutions including immunizing pet and stray dogs, avoiding reintroduction of the disease through wildlife vaccination, and by helping communities to establish structures to fight rabies themselves.
Boehringer Ingelheim works in several countries leading initiatives such as:

  • Donating 60,000 doses of rabies vaccine in Puerto Rico in 2019;
  • Donating 75,000 doses of rabies vaccine in Madagascar as part of GARC’s SHOTS FOR GOOD initiative in 2018.
  • Support of “Rabies Free Pakistan”, an initiative by the Indus Hospital in Karachi. Donating 15,000 shots of rabies vaccines and 10,000 bright green dog collars that help distinguish vaccinated from unvaccinated stray dogs.
  • Supplying Mexico with rabies immunization kits (including immunization shots, syringes, dog collars for post-vaccination monitoring, etc.) for over 30 years.

The company also supplies various governments (e.g. United States) with wildlife rabies vaccines, which helps to prevent reintroduction of the disease in countries that have successfully eliminated this deadly disease.

Improving the resilience and mental well-being of veterinarians

Supports SDG3

In recent years, Merck Animal Health* has partnered with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to measure and improve veterinary well-being. Activities include:

  • In 2019, Merck and AVMA published new findings that scientifically quantified the prevalence of serious psychological stress and wellbeing in veterinarians in the United States.
  • Merck has made a $100,000 commitment to support AVMA’s Workplace Wellbeing program and resources.
  • Merck is helping build the AVMA Workplace Wellbeing Certificate Program aimed at promoting cultures of workplace wellbeing and inclusivity by offering core foundational educational materials and activities that enhance the skills of veterinary teams.

Together, the two organizations are working for the long-term wellbeing of veterinary professionals.

Local action to improve blood donation in Japan

Supports SDG3

In Japan, ZENOAQ has been participating in blood donation activities conducted by the Japanese Red Cross Society for decades. The activity traces back to 1985, when Sadakazu Fukui, the founder of ZENOAQ, discovered their local community – the Fukushima Prefecture – had the lowest blood donation rate in Japan. Since then, ZENOAQ employees have participated in biannual blood drives at the head offices to support the local community.

In 1998, ZENOAQ received a letter of appreciation from the Minister of Health and Welfare, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi (later to become Prime Minister Koizumi), for the many years of active participation in blood donation activities. In 2016, ZENOAQ received the Golden Merit Medal, the highest possible award from the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The ‘Pet Pledge’

Supports SDG3

Elanco Animal Health pledged in 2020 to improve the world’s health and wellbeing by helping at least 100 million healthy pets help people in the coming years. The company will take on this challenge in the coming years by helping 40 million more pets receive better care through their work with veterinarians and pet owners; delivering a constant flow of new medicines and health products for pets; and helping the world understand and experience the benefits of pets on wellbeing.

Protecting employees and local community

Supports SDG3

At ZENOAQ in Japan, traffic safety is an essential policy in all offices. The company works to reduce the number of traffic accidents during the course of employee travel so as to not affect their local community. This is achieved through ‘safe driving managers’ in all offices, use of telematics in company vehicles (all cars will be equipped by end of fiscal year 2022), employee awards for safe driving, and support for local “Streetscape Foundation” and “Campaign to Save Lives”. ZENOAQ received awards for excellence from the Fukushima Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Prefectural Association of Safe Driving Administrators from fiscal 2015 to 2018.

Promoting health management for employees

Supports SDG3

To promote good health in their offices, ZENOAQ has established various programs to support employee wellness goals. The annual ‘ZENOAQ Walking Campaign’ rewards participants for being more active in their daily lives. The company works with occupational physicians to promote employee health management and disseminate useful materials. A company-wide Health and Safety Commission has taken a leadership role in promoting good practices across the organization.

As a company, ZENOAQ believes protecting the physical and mental health of employees is the key to their work and the continuation of the company. ZENOAQ has set a goal of achieving ‘WHITE 500’, a designation given to Japanese companies that offer excellent health management to staff.

Promoting a culture of health & safety

Supports SDG3

An employee Health & Safety program has been underway within Vetoquinol offices worldwide since 2017. The program aims to reduce health risks within the workplace and implement a safety leadership program amongst managers. As a result, Vetoquinol has observed a culture of safety form within the workplace (e.g. safety is discussed first in all meetings) and a strong reduction in accident rates at their facilities.

The ‘Protein Pledge’

Supports SDG2 and 3

In 2020, Elanco Animal Health pledged to create more resilient food systems by enabling 57 million more people to better access their annual nutritious protein needs. Elanco plans to achieve this objective by improving the efficiency and sustainability of every farmer they work with; improving the health and welfare of 3 billion farm animals; and supporting and enhancing agricultural productivity and income of 250,000 dairy and poultry smallholder farmers.

Strengthening veterinary mental health in Australia with Beyond Blue

Supports SDG3

For over five years, Zoetis has supported the mental health challenges faced by people in rural Australia through its partnership with Beyond Blue. The company has raised over $500,000 in this time by donating $5 from each sale of livestock, pig and poultry vaccines and drenches. The money raised goes directly to Beyond Blue’s Support Service to help more people in rural communities. Zoetis donations have helped over 2,000 receive support through Beyond Blue’s counsellors. These types of services provide an essential mental health safety net for those in need.

Supporting the spread of assistance dogs in Japan

Supports SDG3

In Japan, the number of assistance dogs for the disabled is small compared to other nations and the understanding of their value is low in many areas. Therefore, in order to achieve their social mission — “To enhance the value of animals and contribute to social well-being “ ZENOAQ cooperates with Japan Service Dog Resource Center (JSDRC), a non-profit organization to support activities to promote the use of service dogs. This includes:

  • Training: Established ZENOAQ Scholarship for long-term training of service dog trainers in the U.S. and in Japan and supported the occupational and physical therapists who participated in the program. The participants are now leaders in their field in the country.
  • Academic research: In 2005, the Japanese Society of Service Dogs for the Disabled was established as the world’s first service dog society, and ZENOAQ contributed to the establishment of the society and has continued to support it since then.
  • Breeding: To respond to the shortage of service dogs, ZENOAQ set up a project with the Japan Service Dog Association via JSDRC to introduce, breed and raise breeding dogs, and supported the breeding of 67 dogs and the certification of 29 service dogs in the from 2005 to 2012.

In addition, ZENOAQ provides free parasiticides and prophylactics to service dog breeding groups through veterinary clinics every year.

Tackling Rabies through the Afya Program

Supports SDG3

In the at-risk parts of Africa, India, and other regions, mass annual canine vaccination, reaching at least 70 percent of dogs, has been a proven effective way to eliminate the disease in both animals and humans. Donation of canine rabies vaccine doses, in addition to community education, contributes to a broader global initiative to eliminate canine-mediated rabies by the year 2030.

Since 1996, Merck Animal Health* has supported the Afya Program which now comprises a number of rabies control projects and non-profit organizations whose vaccination-based campaigns are aimed at eliminating canine-mediated rabies. Through Merck Animal Health’s rabies vaccine donations, the Afya Program supports Rabies Free Africa (formerly known as the Afya Serengeti Project) in Tanzania and Kenya, and, as of 2013, Mission Rabies, which focuses on rabies vaccination and education in Asia, Africa, and beyond.

Merck Animal Health employees also participate in vaccination activities. In 2019, Merck Animal Health’s Afya Program reached a milestone of over three million cumulative doses of rabies vaccines donated.

Zoetis Incubator Research Lab in collaboration with Colorado State University

Supports SDG3

In collaboration with Colorado State University, Zoetis established the ‘Zoetis Incubator Research Lab’ in early 2020 to explore the livestock immune system and target new immunotherapies—paving the way for new alternatives to antibiotics in food-producing animals. The initial focus is biotherapeutics for cattle, which could yield broader implications for pigs and poultry. The 3,000-square-foot Zoetis Incubator Research Lab operates at the Research Innovation Center on CSU’s.

Foothills Campus where Zoetis scientists are co-located with CSU’s highly skilled scientists to seed innovations for livestock animal health.

Outputs from this collaboration can help strengthen the responsible use of antibiotics in animals and support better AMR management, which delivers One Health benefits for people.

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