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Core Partners Unite to Chart AMAST’s Four-Year Journey

Researchers, representatives of government agencies, policymakers, industry and NGO leaders gathered at the Kia Oval in London on 27-28 November for the launch of the AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary (AMAST) Network.

Amongst the AMAST partners, we brought together expertise from across the food system, recognising that tackling AMR requires a unified approach. Through breakout discussions and shared insights, we laid the groundwork for a programme that we are sure will shape the understanding and management of AMR in agriculture and food production. A goal for the workshop was to refine the AMAST Roadmap based on partners’ perspectives, and with the great participation and input, we will soon share our updated priorities.

Building Bridges Across Sectors

The launch meeting demonstrated the power of bringing diverse perspectives together. Industry partners shared data on how systematic monitoring and analysis can help balance antimicrobial use with animal welfare, crop production and environmental considerations.  Success stories from various participants highlighted how data-driven approaches are already making a difference in commercial settings, and international perspectives enriched the discussions, with examples of successful interventions from multiple countries where members are able to ‘use the right antibiotic and the right time’.

Addressing Complex Challenges

The discussions revealed both progress and persistent challenges in AMR management. While some regions are successfully optimising antibiotic use in farming, global issues remain, and joined up thinking provides a path forward. Regulatory frameworks, agrifood infrastructure needs, and market access to existing and alternative therapeutics all emerged as key areas requiring attention.

The launch demonstrated that tackling AMR requires more than just scientific expertise – it needs a transdisciplinary approach that brings together all stakeholders in the food system, creating a powerful message on how to responsibly use antibiotics. By combining diverse perspectives and expertise, AMAST is positioned to make significant contributions to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Today marks an exciting milestone in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The eight newly funded AMR Transdisciplinary Networks, supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), came together for their first informal meeting, organised by Willem van Schaik (lead of the TARGet Network). This gathering represents a significant step towards fostering collaboration and maximizing the impact of AMR research across the United Kingdom.

The meeting, held on September 5, 2024, brought together representatives from each of the funded networks:

• People AMR Network
• AMAST Network
• CLIMAR Network
• Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical One Health Diagnostics for AMR Network
• Fungal One Health and AMR Network
• FUTURES Network
• IMPACT AMR Network
• Transdisciplinary AMR Genomics Network

These networks span a diverse range of focus areas within AMR research, from community interventions and agri-food systems to climate change impacts and genomics, from diagnostics and antifungal resistance to early career researcher development and intervention prioritisation. The diversity of expertise and approaches highlights the complex, multifaceted nature of the AMR challenge.

This exchange of ideas sparked enthusiastic discussions about potential collaborations and synergies between the networks, setting a positive tone for future interactions. While still in the early stages, this initial meeting has laid a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration.

Stay tuned for more updates as these AMR Transdisciplinary Networks embark on their work!

The Antimicrobial Resistance in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary (AMAST) Network has hit the ground running with the publication of its first paper, less than a month after the project’s launch!

The article, “Understanding the interests of academics from diverse disciplines to identify the prospective focus for a UK-based transdisciplinary network involving farm-to-fork stakeholders on antimicrobial resistance in agrifood systems: An online survey” has been written by Marie McIntyre and colleagues and published in the journal One Health.

The paper outlines the results of a survey conducted to determine the focus, structure, and priorities of our new network and highlights the complex, interdisciplinary nature of tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agrifood systems. It emphasizes the need for collaboration not just between academic disciplines, but also with non-academic partners throughout the food supply chain.

If you want to get involved in the project, or want to know more, please get in touch by sending an email to our team at amast@quadram.ac.uk

We are excited that the AMAST Network (AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary Network) has received coverage in the Eastern Daily Press, highlighting our important work in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the UK’s agrifood system.

Key Highlights:

• AMAST is a UK-wide network exploring the impact of drug-resistant microbes in farming and food production.
• The network brings together academics, scientists, agricultural industry bodies, and government agencies.
• AMAST has received approximately £650,000 in funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

For more information about the AMAST Network and our work, please get in touch by sending an email to our team at amast@quadram.ac.uk

A new network is setting sail to understand and tackle how antimicrobial resistance impacts UK food production from farm to fork. AMAST – the AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary Network, has been created to harness perspectives from across agrifood stakeholders and prepare new ways to tackle these challenges.

Antimicrobial resistance, where microbes become resistant to the medicines we use to control them, presents a major threat to society and our ability to prevent or cure disease is threatened in the future.

National and international governments and health agencies are taking action to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is now supporting eight new transdisciplinary networks to tackle AMR. 

The AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary (AMAST) Network has been established to understand the challenge of AMR in the UK’s agrifood system. AMAST will receive ca. £650,000 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding as part of its work to tackle infections.

The network will be co-ordinated by Dr Matthew Gilmour, based at the Quadram Institute, with an international expert advisory panel providing oversight.

“We’re really excited to be part of this new community. The agrifood system is incredibly complex with a diverse community of key players that are involved in the production of safe and nutritious foods.  So understanding the challenges of AMR requires a non-traditional approach that pulls together the whole community” said Dr Gilmour.

AMAST will, for the first time, bring together various agrifood communities with academic researchers from different disciplines, to identify from the bottom up the challenges AMR poses within agrifood, and then collaborate to develop solutions.

The AMAST Network will involve members from different agrifood production systems, such as crop, livestock and aquaculture, from primary production through to the consumer. It will also bring in transdisciplinary academics, including bioscientists and social scientists as well as other areas that may not have previously engaged with AMR as a challenge.

The AMAST Leadership Team is made up of the Quadram Institute, Newcastle University, Royal Veterinary College, University of Stirling, Royal Holloway University of London, Cranfield University, James Hutton Institute, Royal Agricultural University, Scotland’s Rural College, University of Bristol, University of Leicester and University of Southampton. Partners on board the AMAST Network include ADAS, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, CAB International (CABI), The Environmental Research Institute (University of Highlands and Islands), the FAI Farms, Fera Science, the Food Industry Initiative on Antimicrobials (FIIA), Menter a Busnes, NHS Highland, Ricardo,  UK Agri-Tech Centre and Vet Sustain.

Through interviews, workshops and themed community meetings, all members of the network will be able to bring their perspectives on the key threats of AMR in agrifood. The network will collectively identify and prioritise areas of opportunity, as well as understanding where more research is needed to plug gaps in our understanding.

To find out more about the AMAST Network contact at AMAST@quadram.ac.uk