Project on AMR Control in Poultry to be Initiated with financial support from ICARS Denmark
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Government of Pakistan and the Denmark-based International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) to address Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and promote the responsible use of antibiotics within Pakistan’s livestock and poultry sectors. Pakistan will initiate a Project of AMR Control in Poultry in Pakistan with financial support from ICARS Denmark.
The virtual signing ceremony was attended by the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, senior officials from the Ministry, and representatives and researchers from ICARS, Denmark.
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FAO ATLASS – Assessment of AMR Surveillance System and Lab Network
Project on AMR Control in Poultry
Under the agreement, ICARS will provide financial support for a three-year research project valued at 540,855 US dollars. The project will be led by the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, with the Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi, serving as a partner institution. The research will evaluate the efficacy of organic acids as alternatives to antibiotics across 30 poultry farms; 15 of these farms will implement the alternative approach, while the remaining 15 will serve as a control group.
AMK Group of Companies; Animal Health and Nutrition Solutions
Federal Minister commended the efforts of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Mashkoor Mohsin Gilani, and the research team from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, as well as Dr. Syed Muzammil Hassan Gilani, the Ministry’s Technical Focal Person for Animal Health.
Poultry Feed Additives by Addeasy Biotechnology
Comments of Federal Minister
Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stated that Antimicrobial Resistance poses a serious threat to human and animal health, food security, and agricultural production. He emphasized that the responsible use of antibiotics and the implementation of measures based on scientific evidence are essential for sustainable livestock and poultry production.
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He expressed gratitude to ICARS and the Government of Denmark for their support in initiatives against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Pakistan, based on the ‘One Health’ approach.
The Federal Minister emphasized that the findings of the scientific research should yield practical benefits for farmers and contribute to the implementation of Pakistan’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Importance of AMR Control in Poultry and Livestock
According to Rodolphe Mader, Senior Science Advisor for Veterinary Sciences at ICARS, the research will examine antibiotic usage, antimicrobial resistance, poultry health, and overall farm performance. The project aims to reduce the use of antimicrobial treatments by at least 20 percent without compromising poultry production efficiency. The study will also evaluate the economic viability and practical feasibility of using alternatives to antibiotics, with the goal of generating evidence to support the implementation of these measures across the country’s broader poultry sector.
Helle Engslund Krarup, Executive Director of ICARS, stated that this partnership would provide significant scientific evidence regarding alternatives to antibiotics and the reduction of AMR within Pakistan’s poultry industry. She highlighted the sustained leadership of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research as instrumental in achieving this objective.
Controlling Salmonellosis in the food chain through alternatives to Antibiotics
Future of AMR Project
At the conclusion of the event, Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain expressed hope that this partnership between Pakistan and ICARS would strengthen research capabilities within the country, promote the responsible use of antibiotics, and pave the way for further international cooperation in the livestock and poultry sectors.
