Poultry industry leaders unite over industry principles to reduce the need to use antimicrobials in an effort to combat antimicrobial resistance

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that spreads amongst human, animal, and plant populations, weakening our ability to prevent and treat future infections. To effectively tackle AMR and reduce its impact on global health security, the USAID-funded Transformational Farm Output Risk Mitigation (TRANSFORM) project is leveraging multi-sectoral interventions using the One Health approach that recognizes the interdependencies between the health of humans, animals, and the environment. As part of TRANSFORM, the International Poultry Council (IPC) is driving global change within animal agriculture by uniting poultry industry associations and private sector organizations to support antimicrobial use stewardship principles that guide actions to avoid the need to use, but when needed, ensure proper use of antimicrobials.

Today, 11 organizations announce their commitment to antimicrobial use stewardship principles that reduce the need to use antimicrobials at the farm level. These organizations are commended for recognizing the importance of antimicrobial use stewardship:

• Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam (AHAV)
• Asociación Latinoamericana de Avicultura (ALA)
• British Poultry Council (BPC)
• Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors (CPEP)
• Cargill, Inc., a global agribusiness
• Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC)
• Hoa Phat, a Vietnam-based company
• McDonald’s, a global foodservice provider
• Srinivasa Farms, an India-based company
• Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC)
• Tyson Foods, a United States-based company

These organizations join eight others that have already adopted or endorsed the principles, including Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), Federación Nacional de Avicultores de Colombia (FENAVI), Poultry Federation of India (PFI), Unione Nazionale Filiere Agroalimentari Carni e Uova (UNAITALIA), Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association (TBA), Vietnam Poultry Association (VIPA), DABACO Group and Kenchic Limited.

“Each of the 19 organizations that have endorsed or adopted the antimicrobial use stewardship principles brings us closer to our goal of an industry-wide commitment,” said Robin Horel, IPC President. “We’re inspired by the private sector leadership that has been demonstrated thus far, and hope others are motivated to take action to proactively reduce risks to their flocks and beyond.”

Collectively, these organizations reach over 100 countries and represent over 30% of global poultry meat production spanning all sectors of poultry production from fully integrated systems to small farms. Each organization demonstrates industry leadership in their commitment to these principles, recognizing that action starts at the farm.

By adopting or endorsing the principles, organizations commit to encouraging or taking action that centers around four key points. First, organizations agree to take a risk-based approach around each instance of antimicrobial use and consider why, when, which and how much to administer. Second, organizations agree to adopt farm management practices that improve animal health and would reduce the need for antimicrobial use. Third, organizations commit to using antimicrobials only in compliance with national authorizations and, fourth, that antimicrobials critically important for human medicine should only be used under a supervising veterinarian’s diagnosis and oversight.

“Through the One Health approach, we know that human health is linked with the health of animals,” said Annie Kneedler, Chief of Party for TRANSFORM. “By advancing science-based antimicrobial use stewardship principles, we are able to create an ecosystem where animal health improves, the need for antibiotic use decreases, and animal production increases. These collective efforts contribute to the Global Health Security Agenda goals of reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases, lessening their impacts on the health of humans around the world.”

Led by a private-sector consortium that includes Cargill, Heifer International and IPC, TRANSFORM is working in Kenya, India and Vietnam to advance market-driven animal health solutions that increase global health security by combatting zoonotic disease and AMR. By working throughout the value chain, TRANSFORM aims to drive lasting, systemic change through on-farm practices, holistic animal nutrition research, antimicrobial use stewardship, and access to finance to support animal health and economic sustainability.

For more information about TRANSFORM, visit www.cargill.com/sustainability/transform.

About Cargill

Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials—from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our 160,000-plus team members around the world innovate with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way.

From feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. But our values remain the same. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing. It’s how we’ve met the needs of the people we call neighbors and the planet we call home for 158 years—and how we’ll do so for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About International Poultry Council

The International Poultry Council is the unified voice of the global poultry sector that represents 86% of poultry meat exports and 73% of the volume of poultry meat production. IPC works to strengthen communication between the industries of different countries, promotes a common global understanding of and confidence in poultry products, represents the global poultry sector with international organizations and agencies, shares science-based solutions and information across the whole poultry supply chain, promotes a balanced regulatory framework to support a fair global playing field and promotes, supports and encourages the sustainable development of animal production for global food security.

About USAID

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. The purpose of foreign aid should be ending the need for its existence, and we provide development assistance to help partner countries on their own development journey to self-reliance – looking at ways to help lift lives, build communities, and establish self-sufficiency.

About Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam

Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association (AHAV) is the largest and earliest established professional social organization of the livestock and veterinary industry, operating nationwide for the past 32 years. AHAV includes 152 organizations, 32 of which are branches at provinces and cities and 120 are companies, universities, and research institutes; with 18,000 members, including 23 professors and associate professors; 78 PhDs; over 300 masters specializing in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.

About Asociación Latinoamericana de Avicultura

Asociación Latinoamericana de Avicultura (ALA) is a non-profit institution that applies principles of equity and transparency in its coalition of the Latin American poultry industry and its member countries. The organization aims to exchange and disseminate technical and scientific knowledge, good practices and experiences while respecting the environment and promoting healthy competition.

About British Poultry Council

The British Poultry Council (BPC) is the leading UK trade association for poultry meat producers and their supply chains through breeding, farming, and processing. The BPC is there to ensure its members have a fair regulatory system and addresses business critical issues as varied as avian influenza, global trade, bird welfare, antibiotic use, and the social benefits of poultry meat.​

About Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors

Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors (CPEP) is the national trade organization representing the interests of more than 170 Canadian poultry processing, egg grading and processing and hatchery establishments. ​Representing some of the largest agri‐food corporations in Canada, our member companies process over 90% of Canada's chicken, turkey, eggs and hatching eggs. This economic activity generates over $7 billion in retail sales. To accomplish this, our members have invested over $2.5 billion in plant and equipment, and directly employ more than 28,000 Canadian workers.

About Chicken Farmers of Canada

Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) is a national, farmer-run organization, funded completely by farmers. CFC’s main responsibility is to ensure that our 2,800 farmers produce the right amount of fresh, safe, high-quality chicken to meet consumer needs. The evolving risk-management system that we operate under is commonly known as “supply management”. Through on-farm programs such as the food safety program, the animal care program, and biosecurity initiatives, CFC works closely with government partners and industry stakeholders to keep the industry innovative and responsive.​

About Hoa Phat

Hoa Phat Group, Hoa Phat Poultry Co., Ltd., has been raising breeding chickens and producing clean eggs since 2016. Hoa Phat has invested in building one of Vietnam's leading, high-tech, large-scale chicken farms in Phu Tho with a capacity of 22,000 parent stock chickens and 1.2 million layers each year. Hoa Phat Poultry is also the biggest producer and supplier of clean chicken eggs in the North of Vietnam with the capacity of nearly 900,000 clean eggs every day.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with nearly 40,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners.

About Srinivasa Farms

At Srinivasa Farms, we are passionate about food. We believe food is more than just an experience, it’s a vehicle for good health and nourishment. We have been a brand leader in the Indian Poultry Industry since 1965, and our areas of operations include Poultry Production, Poultry Breeding (Layer & Broiler), Animal Feed Production, Soya Extraction, Chicken Processing, Chicken Retail Chain & Mega Food Park. With diverse portfolio of products and services, we currently have operations in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and further expanding rapidly across pan India.​

About Turkey Farmers of Canada

Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC) is the national organization representing Canada’s 510+ turkey farmers, specifically, and the Canadian turkey sector generally in partnership with downstream stakeholders. TFC was established in 1974. ​TFC encourages cooperation throughout the Canadian turkey industry, promotes the consumption of turkey meat, and oversees the national supply management system for marketing turkeys. ​

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