Eight global companies and organizations have recognized the importance of responsible antimicrobial use and are endorsing the International Poultry Council (IPC)’s antimicrobial use stewardship principles. Developed within the Transformational Strategies for Farm Output Risk Mitigation (TRANSFORM) program, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded activity led by Cargill, the principles guide poultry farmer actions to avoid the need for use of antimicrobials, and ensure the chemicals are used according to stewardship principles when required.   

The eight companies represent more than 15 percent of global broiler production, include six associations and two companies, and represent a collective effort in reducing reliance on antimicrobials globally. The organizations are:

• 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, a Vietnam-based company
• Kenchic Limited, a Kenya-based company

By adopting the principles, the organizations are committed to encouraging or taking action that centers around four key points: 1) taking a risk-based approach to understand specific use of antimicrobials, 2) adopting management practices to reduce the need for antimicrobials, 3) using antimicrobials only in compliance with national authorizations, and 4) that antimicrobials critically important for human medicine should be used for therapeutic purposes only and under a supervising veterinarian's diagnosis and oversight.

This is the latest initiative from TRANSFORM, a project created to advance market-driven animal health solutions that increase global health security and increase access to safe and affordable animal-sourced nutrition. Led by a private-sector consortium that includes Cargill, Ausvet, Heifer International, and IPC, TRANSFORM aims to drive lasting, systemic change through animal health data applications, antimicrobial use stewardship, and on-farm practices that support animal health and economic sustainability.

Cargill’s TRANSFORM: www.cargill.com/sustainability/transform