Food industry triples support for action on antibiotics
A recent study shows that funding for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance has more than tripled this year.
The funding comes in support of a new business plan that will help UK farming play its part in the global drive to reduce antibiotic use across animal and human medicine.
RUMA chair Gwyn Jones has welcomed the increase in funding, which will take the form of increased subscriptions from RUMA members.
He says it is indicative of the industry’s deepening commitment to work alongside the human medical community in reducing, refining and replacing use of antibiotics globally, as well as building on the successful 10% reduction in UK farm animal use in 2015.
Jones said: “RUMA’s new five-year plan is focused on leadership, supporting and co-ordinating sector-led reductions in the use of antibiotics, inspiring greater levels of responsible use among farmers, and increasing awareness among policy-makers and the general public of the facts as well as challenges and achievements.
“While stewarding use of antibiotics in human medicine to reduce the risk from resistant bacteria is a pressing priority, farming has an important role to play in reducing risk of resistance developing through the food chain.”
Jones stated that the biggest challenge facing farming is how to reduce animal treatment with antibiotics without compromising welfare.
“A well thought-out, science-based approach that improves natural immunity, reduces disease burden and finds different ways to manage infection is essential to protect the well-being of animals.
“There is no silver bullet – it’s about small incremental changes that are carefully tried and tested before implementation.”
The RUMA Alliance, which is 20 years old this year, is widely credited with defining the current best-practice standards that have seen the UK become one of the lower users of antibiotics on-farm in Europe.
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