NEWS 20 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2024 The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced eight awards totaling nearly $5 million to maintain, expand, and utilize previously developed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dashboard tools. According to the announcement, these awards will help advance scientific knowledge around AMR through partnerships with Cornell University, Iowa State University, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Texas Tech University, University of Minnesota, and University of Washington. AMR is a global health threat that makes antibiotics and other antimicrobials less effective. APHIS explains that addressing AMR is important to it, along with the agricultural and public health sectors, because antimicrobials are some of the most critical tools for treating serious animal infections and saving the lives of people and animals. All AMR dashboards developed with this funding are required to include data protections similar to the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act, the press release states. Once created, APHIS will use the dashboards to monitor trends in AMR patterns, detect emerging resistance profiles, and better understand relationships between antimicrobial use, animal health management practices and AMR. These public-private partnerships are expected to improve access to information on AMR in domesticated animals, including livestock, poultry, and companion animals. They will reportedly focus on: • Securely tracking the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant microbes in domesticated animals. • Building an understanding of dynamics and frequencies of resistance emergence in microbial populations. • Developing a communication, coordination, and collaboration strategy for AMR dashboard tools. Read more>> USDA gives awards to support antimicrobial resistance dashboard tools Delicious Food Factory (DFF), a Saudi-based company, announced the establishment of the largest pet food factory in the Middle East. The new facility, spanning a total area of 55,000 square meters, will have a production capacity of 60,000 tons of dry food and 40,000 tons of wet food annually. Founded in 2020, DFF is already the largest pet food producer in Saudi Arabia, according to the company. The factory currently owns the brands Horayra and Purevet, both specializing in cat food, and the newly introduced Kulaib brand, dedicated to dog food. In a statement from the Chairman of DFF, Saud Al Suhaimi, he explained that the factory’s primary objective is to contribute to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by increasing the local GDP and enhancing the circular economy. This will be achieved by providing high-quality products at competitive prices, relying on premium raw materials from the local market. Al Suhaimi further emphasized that the factory aims to meet the growing demand for high-quality pet food across the Middle East region. Read more>> Saudi-based producer to establish largest pet food factory
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