Anne Fanatico

Anne Fanatico is a Professor in the Sustainable Development Department at Appalachian State University, where she has taught since 2010. Her work bridges sustainable food systems, regenerative agriculture, and social equity, with a specialization in poultry production systems. She teaches courses including Principles of Agroecology (SD 3100) and Sustainable Livestock (SD 3250), while developing innovative curricula like Eating Meat in the Anthropocene (HON 2515).

Her academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Poultry Science, University of Arkansas (2007)
• M.S. in Animal Science, Oregon State University (1992)
• Dual B.A. degrees in Zoology and Spanish, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1985)

Fanatico's research integrates ecological poultry practices with social justice, examining insect-based feeds, agroforestry integration, antimicrobial stewardship, and carbon sequestration. Her work emphasizes community engagement in Latin America and training for military veterans through programs like Frontline to Farm. She connects animal welfare with planetary health through a One Health framework, addressing systemic inequities in food systems.

Publication analysis reveals evolving focus from foundational poultry genetics and nutrition studies (2007-2013) to current educational initiatives. Recent 2025 work prioritizes sustainable poultry pedagogy and veteran farmer training, while earlier research advanced organic feed alternatives and free-range welfare metrics. This trajectory demonstrates consistent commitment to practical, scalable solutions for sustainable food systems.

She directs the Pastured Poultry Research Facility at the Sustainable Development Farm and developed a mobile processing unit for small-scale slaughter. Her outreach includes the Sustainable Poultry Outreach program and Frontline to Farm, which trains military veterans in sustainable agriculture through hands-on field experiences and business planning.