Protecting Australia’s food and agribusiness sectors by tackling antimicrobial resistance

Words by Dr Erica Donner

Quality Endorsed Company ISO 9001:2015 SAI Global

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex challenge that poses a critical threat to food and water security and human health. Antimicrobials such as antibiotics and antifungals are essential assets for many food and agribusiness industries, but their overuse and misuse can lead to AMR. When AMR emerges in bacteria and fungi they no longer respond to available antimicrobials. This increases disease risk and burden, making it more difficult and costly to treat infections, and reducing productivity.

As AMR poses a health and biosecurity risk and can impact import/export markets, effective AMR management is needed to meet Australia’s Ag2030 goal to grow agriculture into a $100 billion industry by 2030. But managing AMR is a complex challenge that requires a collaborative effort across many industries. This is why Australia’s newly funded Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (CRC SAAFE) is taking a crosssectoral, multi-partnered approach to tackling AMR.

The CRC SAAFE consortium continues to grow, and now includes more than 60 agricultural businesses, food and beverage producers, water and waste processors, regulators, government agencies, universities and research institutes. Through CRC SAAFE, industries with similar AMR challenges will work together to find shared solutions to mitigate AMR.

CRC SAAFE research will support partners to develop and commercialise the tools needed to tackle AMR across their value chains, de-risk their circular economies, and increase their competitiveness. This will ensure that partners are better positioned to secure international market access, safeguard export growth, and reach productivity targets.

Through an extensive 10-year program of training and education, CRC SAAFE will also equip the next generation of practitioners and professionals with the tools, technology and know-how to manage AMR. A range of PhD opportunities, vocational training, microcredentialling, short courses and workshops will be offered to ensure that AMR knowledge is disseminated as widely as possible throughout the food and agribusiness and environmental management sectors. Australian food and agriculture is known worldwide for its premium quality, safety and sustainability. By mitigating AMR, CRC SAAFE will help protect and leverage this powerful global brand.

Professor Erica Donner is acting CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (CRC SAAFE). f

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