Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss will give the keynote address at the first national conference to examine global impacts of farm antibiotic use which is aimed at the food supply chain.

Covering the whole chain from ‘farm and vet to pork’ but focusing specifically on the processing, retail and food service sectors, the ‘Antibiotic Stewardship in Animal Health and the Food Chain‘ conference will be held on October 4 at Resource for London.

The conference, which is supported by RUMA, will show how good antibiotic stewardship is a key part of tackling the global epidemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It will take a novel look at how strategies in different food supply chains are proving successful in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of antibiotics that treat both animals and humans.

Conference director Scott Buckler said: “The global health crisis caused by antibiotic resistance should not be underestimated by any professional working in animal or food sectors.

“While progress has been made in some areas, the issue is still being ignored by too many organisations. We want to change that at this event and highlight the urgent need to engage and act.”