Abstracts of the 4th International Online Conference on Animals

The pressures on human animal relations are growing and were recently addressed in the 4th International Online Conference on Animals (IOCAN). IOCAN 2026, which took place online from the 17–19 March 2026, aimed to provide opportunities for its participants to share facts and engage in discussion, relying on evidence-based veterinary medicine, animal welfare science, ethics and biology, all under a comprehensive One Health approach. The main topics and sessions of the conference were Sustainable Animal Welfare, Ethics and Human–Animal Interactions; One Health: Disease Manifestation and Management in Animals, Humans, and the Environment; Sustainable Animal Nutrition; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Environmental Challenges to Animals and Precision Livestock Farming; Animal Physiology, Reproduction, and Sustainable Animal Production; and Aquatic Animals. Building on the success of previous IOCANs, this conference had more attendees and presenters than ever before. The conference, being online, provided an opportunity for scientists from around the world to discuss the latest developments in our relationship with animals, without the necessity for anyone to travel. This particularly benefited scientists from low-income countries and those without the means or desire to attend an in-person conference. The major messages to emerge from the conference were the interconnectedness of animals, the planet and people in a One Health approach, the need for urgent action to address intensive animal farming, and the importance of improving the sustainability of our relations with animals.