As part of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (18-24 November), the UK Agri-Tech Centre is showcasing its role in helping prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in agriculture.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites adapt to become resistant to the medicines designed to combat them. In agriculture, this can have devastating effects, making treatments less effective and leading to the spread of untreatable infections, threatening livestock health and welfare.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre readily supports initiatives focusing on animal health and welfare and has recently partnered with Oxi-Tech Solutions on a groundbreaking project to clean milking systems without chemicals.
This innovative project enhances efficiency for farmers, reduces the sector’s carbon footprint and supports the sustainability of dairy farming. By increasing the sanitation levels of water in milking parlours, it tackles harmful bacteria like those that cause mastitis, all while minimising the dependency on antibiotics or environmentally damaging chemicals.
Paul Morris, CEO of Oxi-Tech Solutions, said:
“We are working to reduce dependency on chemicals like chlorine and increase sanitation levels of water in the parlours. Hopefully this will reduce the spread of mastitis causing bacteria and water borne pathogens, but without increasing drug dependency or harm to the environment.
We work towards prevention rather than cure but in a sustainable manner.”
Oxi-Tech’s technology can be utilised across a spectrum of disinfection applications including agri-tech, water supply, built environment and the destruction of pathogens.
By working together on solutions such as this one, we can continue to combat AMR and support the safeguarding of both the agricultural industry and the environment, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future.
