GeoVet 2023 Special Issue

From 19 to 21 September 2023, the city of Silvi Marina, in the province of Teramo, hosted GeoVet2023, continuing a tradition that, since 2001, has positioned the conference as a global reference for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of geospatial science and veterinary medicine. With the theme "Expanding Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Geospatial Research for the One Health Era", GeoVet2023 gathered experts from diverse fields to address critical challenges, including the impacts of climate change, human activities, and interactions between domestic and wild animals on veterinary and public health, as well as food safety. GeoVet2023 continued the trajectory set by GeoVet2019, which explored how emerging technologies and data-driven approaches in the Big Data era redefined spatial analysis in animal and public health. The 2023 edition expanded these discussions by incorporating practical applications of real-time data science, artificial intelligence, and decision-making tools, along with social network data, citizen science, and advanced spatio-temporal methods to address challenges posed by climate change and the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Another key aspect of the conference was the dialogue between scientists and international organizations, pointing out the crucial role of effective communication in bridging research and policymaking. Indeed, in his opening keynote, Marius Gilbert shared lessons from managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, highlighted the challenges related to public communication and underscoring the need for health science literacy, trust, and structured scientific debate. The scientific program of GeoVet2023 included five keynotes, eight senior presentations, 43 engaging talks, and 50 informative posters, representing 106 research projects in total. The relationships established and the knowledge shared during this conference not only reflect its innovation but also provide a roadmap to guide the progress of interdisciplinary geospatial research and One Health strategies in the years to come. This special issue of Veterinaria Italiana captures the innovation, integration, and practical applications that characterized the GeoVet2023 conference discussions. Presenting 12 selected studies, it showcases the latest development in spatial epidemiology and geospatial tools, providing solutions for pressing issues such as disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, and the impacts of environmental changes on health systems. These studies provide concrete examples of how geospatial research improves veterinary and public health within the One Health framework.