In response to the escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food systems, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a landmark 10-year strategy aimed at reducing the need for antimicrobials in agriculture, with a strong emphasis on livestock and dairy systems.
Named RENOFARM (Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation), the initiative was unveiled at a global forum co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Rongchang District, and the Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences.
The initiative comes at a critical time for global agriculture, as overuse of antimicrobials in livestock, especially in poultry, aquaculture, and dairy, raises serious concerns about animal welfare, public health, and environmental sustainability.
“Persistent use of antimicrobials in livestock production poses a triple threat—to human health, animal productivity, and environmental balance,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “RENOFARM seeks to rewrite this narrative by putting forward sustainable, scalable alternatives.”
What Does RENOFARM Aim to Do?
RENOFARM focuses on five pillars—‘5 Gs’—at the farm level:
- Good Health Services: Enhancing access to veterinary care and diagnostics
- Good Production Practices: Promoting hygiene, nutrition, and animal welfare
- Good Alternatives: Encouraging the use of probiotics, vaccines, and herbal supplements
- Good Connections: Facilitating collaboration across farmers, policymakers, and researchers
- Good Incentives: Offering policy and market-based motivators to adopt AMR-free practices
The strategy includes:
- Policy frameworks for antimicrobial governance
- Technical assistance and training for dairy and livestock farmers
- Capacity building and R&D partnerships
- Knowledge sharing platforms for regional best practices
Why This Matters for the Dairy Industry
With dairy production systems often relying on antimicrobials to manage infections like mastitis, the FAO’s initiative offers a timely and much-needed shift toward prevention-first strategies.
India, the world’s largest milk producer, stands to benefit significantly by aligning its dairy sustainability goals with RENOFARM’s guidelines. Improved udder health, clean milking practices, vaccination regimes, and traceability systems are among the practices already being piloted by progressive dairy farms across India.
“For Indian dairy stakeholders, this is a strategic opportunity to transition to greener, safer production models while safeguarding long-term livestock productivity and export potential,” said an industry expert from Dairy News India.