BENGALURU, 23 July 2025: The Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers' Association (IPEMA) and Poultry India extended their support to the AMR Stewardship Drive 2025 organised by the ICAR-NIVEDI (National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics), in collaboration with CII-FACE and the Indian Federation of Animal Health Companies (INFAH).
Held at the ICAR-NIVEDI campus in Yelahanka, the event focused on “Building Partnerships for Strengthening Our Response to AMR” and marked a milestone in India’s collective fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the livestock and poultry sectors.
The initiative featured the release of the CII report on “Industry-Led AMR Stewardship in Animal Agriculture”, offering a framework for multi-stakeholder collaboration. ICAR-NIVEDI acted as the Technical Partner and INFAH served as Knowledge Partner for the drive.
Addressing the gathering, Uday Singh Bayas, President of IPEMA and Poultry India, emphasized the platform’s role in convening veterinary experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to address pressing challenges such as AMR.
“AMR is a multifaceted issue—impacting food security, trade, and animal health,” said Mr. Bayas. “Through knowledge-sharing platforms like Poultry India, we aim to enable responsible practices across the supply chain.”
He also highlighted the overwhelming success of the 16th Poultry India Expo in 2024, which saw unprecedented participation. The upcoming 17th edition, he said, will feature enhanced technical sessions and seminars focused on sustainability and stewardship in animal agriculture.
Key Outcomes and Expert Voices
The event spotlighted urgent national priorities including:
- Promoting responsible antimicrobial use
- Strengthening diagnostics and surveillance at the grassroots
- Encouraging the One Health approach across sectors
- Scaling innovations in alternative therapies
- Capacity building and skilling programs for veterinarians and farmers
Dignitaries at the event included Dr. B. R. Gulati, Director of ICAR-NIVEDI; Mr. Suresh Chitturi, Chairman, CII Animal Agriculture Committee and MD of Srinivasa Farms; Dr. Shirish Nigam, President of INFAH; Prof. (Dr.) P. K. Shukla, President of the Indian Poultry Science Association; and Dr. Sindura Ganapathi, PSA Fellow at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
Dr. Gulati, in his keynote, stressed the need to align industry efforts with India’s National Action Plan on AMR and strengthen surveillance mechanisms.
Chitturi cautioned about the projected 312% rise in veterinary antibiotic use by 2030, citing FAO data, and called for urgent regulation and awareness to safeguard food systems and public health.
Technical Sessions and Student Engagement
A series of technical talks followed the inaugural, moderated by Dr. Mahesh Patlapati, Director, Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry. Topics included:
- Ethnoveterinary Medicine in AMR Containment – Prof. N. Punniamurthy
- Responsible Antibiotic Use and Record-Keeping – Dr. Muralidhar Yegireddy
- AMR Surveillance in Livestock – Dr. Shivasharanappa N, ICAR-NIVEDI
- FSSAI 2024 Amendments and Industry Preparedness – Dr. Amit Sharma
A panel discussion titled “Tackling AMR in Animal Agriculture: Industry Perspectives and Practices” was also held, moderated by Dr. Shirish Nigam.
The event concluded with a collage-making competition for students and scholars under the theme “Be Antibiotic Smart: The Future is in Your Hands”, promoting youth involvement in AMR awareness.
IPEMA and Poultry India reaffirmed their commitment to driving responsible practices, fostering innovation, and sustaining multi-stakeholder dialogue in the fight against AMR.
