Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is increasingly recognized as a critical public health challenge worldwide, posing significant risks to human and animal health, food safety, trade, and economic stability. Recognizing the urgency of this growing threat, the Confederation of Indian Industry – Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII FACE) in collaboration with Indian Federation of Animal Health Companies (INFAH) as Knowledge Partner has launched the AMR Stewardship Drive 2025 a multi-city outreach campaign aimed at fostering awareness, building capacity, and promoting antimicrobial stewardship practices across the livestock and aquaculture sectors.
The first session of this national drive was organized on 11th July 2025 in Bengaluru by CII FACE in collaboration with ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI). The inaugural session marked the beginning of a sector-wide effort to combat the rising threat of AMR in animal agriculture. A total of 120 participants including veterinarians, researchers, academicians, fisheries professionals, industry members, startups and veterinary graduates participated in the event.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Mr. Suresh Chitturi, Chairman, CII Committee on Animal Agriculture and Managing Director, Srinivasa Farms. He emphasized that addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was no longer a future challenge but a present imperative. He underscored the need for collective action across the animal agriculture value chain to safeguard productivity, public health, and food safety, while sustaining farmer livelihoods.
Setting the context for the day, Dr. Shirish Nigam, President, Indian Federation of Animal Health Companies (INFAH) and Managing Director, EW Nutrition India, spoke about the pivotal role of the animal health industry in driving responsible antibiotic use. He highlighted the industry’s commitment to stewardship, innovation, and partnerships that strengthen AMR mitigation at the grassroots level.
In his special address, Dr. Baldev R Gulati, Director, ICAR – National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI), reflected on the growing risks of AMR in animal production systems. He outlined NIVEDI’s ongoing efforts in advancing disease surveillance, veterinary diagnostics, and One Health collaboration to counter this emerging threat.
Prof. (Dr.) P K Shukla, President, Indian Poultry Science Association and Head, Department of Poultry Science, DUVASU, Mathura, shared perspectives on the poultry sector’s unique challenges and opportunities in AMR containment. He emphasized the need for enhanced veterinary practices, alternative therapies, and farmer education to promote judicious use of antimicrobials in poultry farming.
Dr. Sindura Ganapathi, Visiting PSA Fellow, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, emphasized the importance of aligning AMR containment efforts with the broader One Health agenda. He added that “AMR is not a one-pathogen, one-solution problem—it requires a multi-faceted approach involving innovation and targeted strategies. Each sector, whether poultry, dairy, or aquaculture, faces its own unique challenges and must be addressed with sector-specific solutions.”
The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr. Suresh Chitturi, who reiterated the critical role of partnerships between government, industry, and academia in shaping a future-ready response to AMR.
A key highlight of the event was the release of the CII FACE report titled “Industry-led AMR Stewardship in Animal Agriculture”. This report complies learnings from extensive multi-stakeholder consultations and highlights the drivers of antimicrobial use in dairy, poultry, and aquaculture, emerging risks, gaps in current practices, and context-specific solutions for responsible antimicrobial usage. The report outlined actionable recommendations for policymakers, industry players, academia, startups, and farmer organizations, providing a roadmap to enhance stewardship, safeguard food safety, protect animal productivity, and ensure environmental sustainability.
The program featured the technical session on Ground-Level Action Against AMR. This technical session focused on ground-level strategies to combat AMR through four key areas including promoting ethnoveterinary medicine by showcasing herbal alternatives, encouraging responsible antibiotic use through drug classification, withdrawal periods, and record-keeping, with a strong emphasis on the role of vets and para-vets; ongoing AMR surveillance programs and testing in the Livestock Sector and preparing stakeholders for compliance with the FSSAI 2024 amendment collectively enabling practical, field-ready solutions for AMR mitigation across the livestock and aquaculture sectors.
The afternoon session featured a high-level panel discussion on “Tackling AMR in Animal Agriculture: Industry Perspectives and Practices.” Industry leaders shared real-world experiences and practical challenges in implementing responsible antimicrobial use. The discussion focused on innovations and good practices already adopted by progressive players, the need for an enabling environment, policy support, capacity building, and partnerships to mainstream these efforts, scaling sustainable practices while balancing productivity and profitability in the livestock sector. The session reinforced that combating AMR requires a multi-pronged approach integrating policy reforms, industry action, and farmer-level awareness.
As part of its youth engagement efforts, the event also featured a Collage-Making Competition for students and scholars on the theme “Be Antibiotic Smart: The Future is in Your Hands.” This creative session encouraged participants to visually express their understanding of AMR, and the proactive steps needed to contain it.
The AMR Stewardship Drive 2025 reaffirms the importance of collaborative action across industry, government, academia, and civil society to address antimicrobial resistance a silent but growing threat to India’s animal agriculture and public health. The event sets the stage for a sustained, sector-wide stewardship movement under the broader One Health vision for India.
The next session of this national drive is scheduled on 11 August 2025 at Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
