The Raptor Center and International Partnerships

As you know, The Raptor Center not only focuses on raptors, but also on the bigger picture of how human and wildlife health intersects with the environment, and connects us all.

In April, TRC’s executive director, Dr. Julia Ponder, traveled to Europe as part of a diverse group of participants who were given an insight into public policymaking at an international level. This group of 23 participants with different professional profiles from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, was part of an intensive professional development program that provided mid- and senior-level government officials, private sector leaders and academic faculty with the opportunity to interact more effectively with intergovernmental organizations.

Dr. Ponder participated in site visits and interactions with key officials working with food safety, animal health and public health from four international organizations: the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. Discussions centered on the impact of international standards and policy on food safety, animal health, trade and public health.

For more information on the project, entitled Engaging International Organizations (EIO), and co-spearheaded by Will Hueston, Center for Animal Health and Food Safety here at the University of Minnesota), click here: