Can better governance reduce antimicrobial usage? An assessment of Vietnamese aquaculture systems
This project assesses the impact on antimicrobial use (AMU) of current public and private policies and initiatives such as, private sector requirements, regulations and current surveillance systems; and economic and social factors that influence stakeholders’ behaviours in relation to AMU. Further, it aims to produce a systems dynamic model to assist the development of effective antimicrobial resistance (AMR) interventions in aquaculture.
It is part of the AMFORA project, a collaboration between the Royal Veterinary College, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), WorldFish and Stirling University and part of the strategic investments of Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) into the global AMR challenge, through the CGIAR AMR Hub; LSHTM also forms part of this initiative.
Using quantitative and qualitative methods to gather field-derived data, the project assesses socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing decision-making among producers, providers of health services, policy makers, and other actors in the system, leading to AMU in aquaculture. The aims of the project are: first, to characterise aquaculture systems, AMR and related policies; second, to conduct socio-economic analyses to understand factors driving AMU such as those linked to the host, producers, supporting services, markets, national governance and international policies; and third, to develop a systems dynamic model to simulate intervention scenarios to reduce AMU.
Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector worldwide, driven by increasing demand for affordable protein and trade. The expansion of commercial aquaculture through intensification has involved an increasing use of antimicrobials (AMs) and other veterinary products to prevent and treat disease outbreaks, maximise production and compensate for sub-optimal management. This increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) developing in the systems. Aquaculture systems are inherently complex compared to other livestock systems, with diverse ecological characteristics and environmental linkages. Regulation for responsible use of AMs is often inefficient and effective surveillance and monitoring systems of AM use (AMU) are lacking. Consequently, there are large data and knowledge gaps in relation to usage and its drivers.
The study will be conducted in Vietnam the fourth major aquaculture producer in Asia whose export activity is forecasted to grow by almost 40% by 2025. The findings of the study are envisaged to inform AMR policies and interventions for potential implementation by A4NH. The systems dynamic model will also be useful to assess decision-making processes in relation to AMU in other low and middle-income countries.
