On 9th May 2025, ICARS facilitated a workshop engaging 45–50 scientists. Participants represented a wide range of geographical regions, reflecting the global nature of the challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Hosted by Pig Paradigm, (an international, cross-institutional and interdisciplinary AMR project), the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of how intervention and implementation research approaches can be effectively applied to support AMR mitigation strategies. The session focused on building practical skills for designing implementation research projects, with emphasis on three key steps:
- Problem identification
- Stakeholder mapping
- Selection of potential interventions
To promote active learning and context-based understanding, participants engaged in a collaborative case study exercise based on ICARS’ ongoing project in Colombia: Reducing antimicrobial use through improved provision of colostrum and use of vaccines in weaning pigs. Through structured role-playing, attendees assumed the perspectives of various actors within the system, including veterinarians, farmers, consumers, and government representatives, to prioritise AMR-related challenges using a problem tree methodology.
Further examples from other ICARS-supported projects were shared to further stimulate discussion, providing valuable insight into the diverse challenges and opportunities encountered when implementing AMR solutions in different settings.
The workshop reflects ICARS’ continued commitment to supporting LMICs and stakeholders from across the One Health spectrum to co-develop and implement context-specific solutions to AMR.
About PIG–PARADIGM
Preventing Infection in the Gut of developing Piglets – and thus Antimicrobial Resistance – by disentAngling the interface of DIet, the host and the Gastrointestinal Microbiome
PIG-PARADIGM is an international, cross-institutional and interdisciplinary AMR (antimicrobial resistance) project.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming one of the greatest global health threats, and the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials are accelerating the spread of AMR.
In the pig production industry, a major part of antibiotic usage is related to treatment of enteric infections. Now with DKK 150 million (€20.1 million) of funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, PIG-PARADIGM has brought together scientists from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States, aiming to improve intestinal robustness and resilience in developing piglets by advancing fundamental knowledge of the pig gut microbiome and its interaction with nutrition and the host.
New knowledge on how to strengthen piglets’ natural defence will form the basis for the development of industrial solutions in commercial pig production. These strategies will curtail the dependence on antibiotics, thereby contributing to the global effort to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. The reduction in antibiotic usage not only aligns with responsible farming practices but also enhances the image of animal agriculture.
ICARS staff members Kristina Osbjer, Anders Dalsgaard, and Jyoti Joshi collaborate on the Pig Paradigm study and serve on the steering committee.
