SLU news

SLU participates in investigation for strengthened Swedish work for responsible antibiotic use in livestock globally

Published: 15 November 2021

Professor Ulf Magnusson, SLU, will be part of the investigation group, whose task is to describe and evaluate Sweden's work to bring about a more responsible and reduced use of antibiotics in livestock globally and, if necessary, propose measures to streamline and develop the work. The assignment will be reported 30 June 2022, at the latest.

Sweden has worked internationally to reduce antibiotic resistance since long, but there is a need to evaluate, streamline and develop the work.

The investigation shall;

  • map Swedish actors' efforts for responsible and reduced antibiotic use in livestock globally,
  • analyse the effectiveness of the efforts and assess which initiatives can receive the greatest return in relation to the funds and resources invested, and
  • submit proposals for measures that could generally streamline and develop Sweden's work further for a responsible and reduced use of antibiotics in animal husbandry globally.

– Swedish authorities and farmers have been very successful in lobbying within the EU, while we at SLU have mainly been working on the global arena through cooperation with FAO*, OIE** and CGIAR** or through our own research and capacity development activities.  It is therefor very positive that SLU’s experience and knowledge now will be put in use in this investigation, comments Ulf Magnusson.

Read the committee directives from the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation. (In Swedish)

* Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
** World Organisation for Animal Health
*** CGIAR - a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

Facts:

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is celebrated from 18-24 November every year.

The 2021 theme, Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance, calls on One Health stakeholders, policymakers, health care providers, and the general public to be Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness champions.