CURRENT PLEDGES: 217671
Shared Learning 2025 – Animal Health, Agriculture & Food Supply
Organisation
Arwain DGC
Project title: Arwain DGC – Driving Action Against AMR: A Coordinated National Approach for Livestock and the Environment in Wales.
Project Overview
Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthficrobaidd Cyfrifol / Responsible Antimicrobial Use) is a Welsh Government-funded initiative coordinated by Mentera, aiming to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock and the environment. Established in 2019 by veterinary professionals, the programme’s evolved into a collaborative effort involving farmers, veterinarians, researchers, and industry experts. Together, they implement a comprehensive, coordinated approach to reducing AMR. Key activities include:
- Antimicrobial stewardship: Supporting veterinarians in setting high standards of antimicrobial prescribing through the Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network (over 85% of Welsh farm veterinary practices), establishing a code of conduct, clinical guidelines, and providing training and resources.
- Technological innovation: Utilising novel technologies and precision agriculture to reduce the need for antimicrobials through improved disease prevention and management strategies. Innovations and technology deployed on farms include artificial intelligence, automated health monitors, accelerometers, environment sensors and a biosecurity app.
- Antimicrobial use monitoring: Collating and analysing over 7,000 farm antimicrobial use (AMU) datasets to identify trends and inform targeted interventions. Led by Welsh Lamb & Beef Producers – it’s among the leading AMU data collection processes in Europe. A further 23,000+ syndromic surveillance records have been collated.
- AMR surveillance: Exploring AMR E. coli in the environment through on-farm faecal sampling identifying AMR transmission pathways and informing mitigation strategies. Over 3,000 samples have been collected and processed from 70 Welsh farms, the largest reported study of its kind worldwide.
- Knowledge exchange: Developing resources on antimicrobial stewardship and disseminating them to veterinarians, farmers, and equine owners through in-person events, workshops, and online resources.
- Global partner: Advocating best-practice alongside disseminating project outcomes – comprising evidence of interventions to reduce antimicrobial use in Welsh agriculture – nationally and internationally – through peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations. Co-ordinating these approaches, Arwain DGC contributes to global efforts to combat AMR, safeguarding public health and food security.
Impact on tackling AMR
Data capture
The antimicrobial use (AMU) calculator – supported through Arwain DGC – has captured data from 2,422 beef, 2,576 sheep and 430 dairy enterprises across Wales – representing 56,000 beef cattle, 1.7 million sheep, and 73,000 dairy cattle. AMU data by European Medicines Agency (EMA) category, class and administration routes are captured for each enterprise. Two publicly available reports have been published detailing annual AMU practices from a substantial portion of Welsh farms. This work presents a significant step forward in data-driven approaches informing decision-making and fostering responsible antimicrobial stewardship, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability of Welsh livestock production.
Innovating for Sustainable Livestock Health
One example of the impact of embracing innovation to reduce AMU is at Argoed Hall Farm. which is committed to advancing sustainable livestock practices and optimising animal health. By implementing an innovative automated footbath system, the enterprise has significantly reduced reliance on antimicrobials. Within six months of installation, the herd’s prevalence of digital dermatitis – an infectious disease causing lameness – reduced from 7% to a remarkable 0.9%, alongside a reduction in AMU by nearly one-fifth.
Beyond improving animal health and welfare, this technology also enhanced worker safety. It requires minimal human intervention as cattle simply walk through the footbath twice daily during the milking routine. By supporting farmers with technological advancements, we can foster a healthier, more sustainable future for livestock farming.
National and international impact
The Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network was referenced in the UK Government’s National Action Plan “Confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029” as an example of best practice. The network’s numerous accolades include the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Impact Award (2020) and the Antibiotic Guardian Award for Prescribing and Stewardship (2023). Industry impact has been recognised internationally through invited presentations in Austria, Australia, Finland, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Future Development
The Arwain DGC programme will continue evolving, ensuring that it is aligned with the UK National Action Plan 2024-2029. AMR is a dynamic challenge, and to adapt and advance, we must be flexible in our delivery of the programme, embracing innovation and information to reduce the risk of AMR. Key developments of the programme in the future include;
- Fostering a culture of excellence in antimicrobial stewardship through enhancing the Veterinary Prescribing Champions (VPCs) network to serve as influential advocates for responsible antimicrobial use within their practices and among their clients. Through ongoing, targeted training and support, VPCs will be empowered to expand their knowledge base and inspire positive change within the farm animal sector.
- Focusing on infection prevention and control, Arwain DGC will invite farmers and veterinarians to apply cutting-edge innovation and best practice on their farms and practices. Implementing data-driven and evidence-based interventions established through the programme will optimise AMU and improve overall animal health.
- Enhancing our knowledge and understanding of AMR by investing in our workforce to support farmer and vet knowledge exchange with global experts and institutions. Through study tours and scholarships, we will foster innovation and knowledge sharing between stakeholders crucial in antimicrobial stewardship endeavours.
- Building upon the portfolio of existing surveillance data, Arwain DGC will inform how future surveillance strategies can produce an accurate picture of AMR across Welsh farms, which is essential in understanding the prevalence and dynamics of AMR over time. This work will also pinpoint where interventions are necessary to mitigate AMR and safeguard public health.
- Delivering dynamic knowledge exchange events and activities to disseminate ground-breaking findings from various workstreams to farmers and vets across Wales. We aim to cultivate a transformative social shift towards responsible AMU by inspiring innovation and challenging conventional practices.
Organisation
Commonwealth Pharmacists Association
Project title: Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Agriculture and Food Sector through access to evidence-based Animal Health Guidelines – The Prescribing Companion App
Project Overview
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, claiming approximately one million lives annually and projected to cause 10 million deaths globally per year by 2050 if left unchecked. Low- and middle-income countries are expected to bear the greatest burden, with nearly 90% of these deaths occurring in African and Asian regions. One of the key drivers of this crisis is the irrational use of antibiotics, often stemming from the lack of access to evidence-based treatment guidelines at the point of care.
The Prescribing Companion App is a critical tool designed to address this challenge by supporting antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) with a particular focus on one health and is unique in combining resources for animal health alongside those for human health. Targeting health workers in resource-limited settings, the app provides point-of-care access to AMS resources, including international and local guidelines, to promote rational antimicrobial use in animal health.
A key feature of the app is its Animal Health Section, which hosts international resources to guide veterinary practices and, where available, country-specific guidelines for antimicrobial use in animal health informed by the latest research. Until now, these resources have not been readily available in low resource settings but access to high-quality resources tailored to meet the needs of animal health practitioners is essential for increasing awareness, and good prescribing practices. By equipping them with evidence-based tools, the app helps optimise treatment plans, standardise care and enhances outcomes in veterinary medicine.
The resources on the app also support surveillance, research, disease prevention and biosecurity. The app is free, open-access, available on Android and google. It also supports offline functionality making it an ideal resource for low-resource settings. Additionally, the app is fully customisable allowing for further development to align with local contexts and specific prescribing needs.
Impact on tackling AMR
Reduction in AMR through Responsible Prescribing Practices
Since its launch, the Prescribing Companion App has equipped over 92,000 animal and human healthcare professionals, across 22 low- and middle-income countries with access to over 60 international animal health resources and 7 One Health guidelines. This centralized repository of evidence-based information has improved prescribing practices in animal health, reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use. By enabling informed and responsible prescribing, the app directly contributes to mitigating AMR, which is particularly critical in resource-constrained settings heavily reliant on antibiotics for livestock health and productivity.
Capacity Building for Animal Health Practitioners
The app serves as a training and continuous education tool for animal health practitioners, particularly in countries where formal training on AMS is scarce. It has built capacity by providing up-to-date resources and guidelines tailored to AMS in animal health. By the appointment of App Champions in these countries, they collaborate with Ministries and key stakeholders to embed the use of the app aligning to the countries AMS national action plans. This further enhances institutional capacity to promote rational antimicrobial use, fostering a sustainable framework for combating AMR within veterinary sectors.
Improved Access to Vital Veterinary Guidelines in Remote Areas
By offering offline functionality, the app has ensured that animal health practitioners in remote areas with limited internet connectivity have uninterrupted access to critical treatment guidelines and AMS resources. This functionality has bridged gaps in information access, empowering veterinarians to standardise care and apply evidence-based practices in even the most underserved regions. The result is improved efficiency in veterinary care delivery, reduced reliance on outdated practices, and better health outcomes for animals, aligning with broader One Health goals.
Future Development
A key focus for this project development is promoting country ownership and full integration of the app into health systems. By embedding animal health resources at a systemic level, the app will become a routine tool for veterinary professionals, ensuring sustainable use and maximising its impact. Additionally, there will be a routine update of existing resources, ensuring practitioners always have access to the latest evidence-based guidelines and treatment protocols, tailored to both local and global contexts.
The app will also be developed to improve interactiveness by enabling animal and human health practitioners to engage in cross-disciplinary knowledge-sharing. This feature will foster collaboration on managing various health conditions, aligning with the principles of One Health and enhancing the overall effectiveness of AMR strategies.
Leveraging advancements in technology, the app will incorporate AI-driven enhancements, such as quality checking, improved user interfaces and voice command functionality. These features will simplify access to resources, particularly in low-resource settings to better impact the target population.
These developments will ensure the app remains an indispensable resource for animal health practitioners, continually advancing the fight against AMR while improving animal health outcomes worldwide.
