A worldwide coalition of poultry associations has united under the banner of the Transformational Farm Output Risk Mitigation (TRANSFORM) initiative, funded by USAID.
The consortium’s primary objective is to promote responsible antimicrobial use within the poultry sector, advocating for stewardship practices that benefit both industry and global health.
Led by the International Poultry Council (IPC), the project aims to instigate transformative change across animal agriculture worldwide.
Ricardo Santin, President of IPC, emphasizes the importance of science-based antimicrobial practices, asserting that responsible stewardship is not just ethical but also good for business. The IPC hopes to inspire others to adopt similar principles, prioritizing animal health while enhancing profitability.
Joining the initiative are seven new organizations:
- Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU Countries (AVEC)
- Baromfi Termék Tanács (BTT), representing Hungary
- Bundesverband der Geflügelschlachtereien e.v (BVG), from Germany
- Fédération des Industries Avicoles (FIA), representing France
- Krajowa Rada Drobiarstwa – Izba Gospodarcza, Poland’s National Poultry Council
- Vereniging van de Nederlandse Pluimveeverwerkende Industrie (NEPLUVI), representing the Netherlands
- Yum! Brands
With these additions, the project now boasts 26 supporting organizations across 140 countries, encompassing 40% of global poultry production. This includes all sectors, from small farms to fully integrated systems.
The consortium’s four principles endorse:
- Risk-based Approach: Understanding and mitigating specific antimicrobial usage risks.
- Management Practices: Adopting methods to minimize the need for antimicrobials.
- Compliance: Ensuring antimicrobial use aligns with national regulations.
- Supervision: Reserving antimicrobial use for cases diagnosed and supervised by veterinarians.
Annie Kneedler, head of the TRANSFORM project, emphasizes the global nature of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), underscoring the need for a collective response to safeguard antibiotics for both animal and human health. By collaborating across sectors, the project aims to develop market-driven solutions that enhance animal health, mitigate AMR risks, and bolster global health security against emerging diseases.
Cargill, Heifer International, and IPC lead many of the project’s initiatives, which span across Kenya, India, and Vietnam. These efforts focus on combatting zoonotic diseases and AMR while conducting 22 research trials to explore the impact of animal nutrition on priority pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
In November 2023, McDonald’s Corp. and Tyson Foods, two major stakeholders in the poultry industry, also joined the project, signaling a growing commitment to responsible antibiotic use within the sector.
