News

SLU Global hosts expert meeting on antimicrobial resistance

Published: 22 March 2017

Livestock farmers, UN officials and veterinarians from 15 countries from all over the world are in Sweden to discuss the global use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. The meeting, hosted by SLU Global, is the first of its kind and part of the UN's fledgling efforts against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The use of antimicrobials in livestock farming is increasing in many parts of the world, both as cure and as prevention. The increase of AMR threatens both human and animal health.

During the meeting in Uppsala one will work to develop practical action plans to farmers in the world on how to use fewer antibiotics.

- It is easy for ministers to sign declarations about reducing antibiotic use. Implementation is more difficult. What is needed now are practical steps that are intresting for livestock farmers, says Ulf Magnusson, who is a veterinarian and professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and theme leader at SLU Global. He has worked on the issue of animal health in low-income countries for more than 20 years and has been instrumental in putting together the working group.

In May, the group will have a follow-up meeting in Addis Ababa, to present their ideas and disseminate them within their respective networks.

Source: UNT 2017-03-21

Listen to a 20 minutes long  inslag om anitbiotikaresistens i Vetandets värld 2017-03-23 där bland annat Professor Ulf Magnusson (SLU) är intervjuad. 

Link to news article at the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock - a partnership of livestock sector stakeholders committed to the sustainable development of the sector. 

Facts:

Facts of AMR

All antibiotics are antimicrobials, but not all antimicrobials are antibiotics.
An antibiotic is a low molecular substance produced by a microorganism that at a low concentration inhibits or kills other microorganisms.
An antimicrobial is any substance of natural, semisynthetic or synthetic origin that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms but causes little or no damage to the host.
Source: Antimicrobial Resistance Learning Site for Veterinarians 

More facts about sustainable animal production in these two reports

Sustainable global animal production - how can Sweden contribute?

Report: Sustainable global livestock developmpent for food security and nutrition including roles for Sweden  Report from the Swedish FAO Committee. ISSN: 1652-9316

Author: Ulf Magnusson (SLU)

Invest in animal health in development to reduce poverty

Improved animal health gives poor small farmers increased production and reduces the spread of infectious diseases and multi-resistant bacteria. Sweden has unique experience of organized animal health work and this experience should be utilized more in development work.

Report: Animal health in development – its role for poverty reduction and human welfare Rapport 2017:03 till Expertgruppen för biståndsanalys (EBA)
Authors: Jonathan Rushton (University of Liverpool), Arvid Uggla (SLU) and Ulf Magnusson (SLU). 

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