Antimicrobial resistance in livestock is a public health threat due to the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans and its negative consequences on animal health and welfare when diseases cannot be treated. AVANT is a multi-actor inter-sectorial project aimed at developing alternatives to antimicrobials for the management of bacterial infections in pigs, especially diarrhoea during the weaning period, as the major indication for antimicrobial use in livestock in Europe. Antimicrobial treatment options for pigs are increasingly limited because of planned restrictions in the use of colistin and zinc, two current choices for treatment of post-weaning diarrhoea. The AVANT portfolio comprises a variety of alternatives for treatment or prevention of diarrhoea and/or respiratory infections, namely (i) gut-stabilizing interventions based on a symbiotic (pre- and probiotic) product and faecal microbiota transplantation; (ii) novel veterinary medicinal products containing bacteriophages and polymers for targeted treatment of enterotoxigenic E.coli infections; (iii) immuno-stimulating injectable and feed additive products, and (iv) alternative feeding strategies targeting sows and piglets. During pre-clinical studies, efficacy, toxicity, and mode of action of these interventions is tested, and their dosage and formulation optimized. The results and a survey for veterinarian-, farmer- and consumers perception of antimicrobial alternatives, will be used together with legal and economic considerations to select three interventions for large-scale farm trials, assessing clinical efficacy and impact on antimicrobial use. All steps are supported by regulatory advice for quick market entry post-project. Generated and existing data on antimicrobial use, pig demographics and projected consumption of pork, will be used in mathematical modelling to estimate the reduction in antimicrobial use that could be achieved by 2030 if the AVANT alternatives were widely adopted in pig production.

HealthyLivestock aims to reduce antimicrobial (AM) use by the pig and broiler industries in China and Europe, and consequent residues in meat and the environment, by improving animal health & welfare without compromising productivity. Phase 1, combining efforts from 5 Chinese and 8 EU academic partners, will include novel scientific approaches in 4 interlinked strategies to reduce AM need. 1) Biosecurity: reducing risk of pathogen presence within a farm through zoning-based Health & Welfare plans, including animal based indicators of success. 2) Resilience: increasing ability of animals to cope with endemic diseases, through novel stress-reducing housing systems and probiotic improvement of gut health. 3) Rapid detection: applying precision farming techniques to facilitate early detection, diagnosis and intervention of health & welfare problems. 4) Precision medication: using pharmacokinetics to target AM to only individuals or groups in need. Phase 2 will validate the technical innovations by establishing their societal acceptability and economic viability. It will also assess the relationships between the Health & Welfare plans, the level of pathogens on the farm and AM residues in product and manure. In phase 3 the project’s industrial partners dedicate their network and expertise to knowledge exchange. The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe will lead dissemination of the scientific findings through Technical Notes. China’s only animal welfare standard setting organisation ICCAW, and Europe’s leading organisation GLOBALG.A.P., will strengthen their Quality Assurance schemes. Zoetis, the world’s largest veterinary pharmaceutical company, will develop and disseminate their pig and poultry advisory apps for global use. Finally, HealthyLivestock will support Chinese and EU policy making through CAAS and its links with International Veterinary Collaboration for China, and through the forthcoming EU Animal Welfare Platform and Network of Welfare Reference Centres.

TransformDairyNet will harness the expertise of 26 European partners to create 11 National Innovation Practice Hubs and a European Knowledge and Innovation Network of dairy farmers, veterinarians, advisors, supply chain actors, farmer organisations, researchers and policy makers, to work together to upscale cow calf contact (CCC) dairy production and beyond. Keeping cows and calves together for months rather than the usual hours/days promotes health, growth and normal, pleasurable behaviour, and is the most consumer accepted ethical practice for increasing the sustainability of dairy systems in line with the Green Deal. TransformDairyNet aims to accelerate the adoption of CCC orientated-practice through: (1) compiling existing knowledge and identifying end-user needs; (2) co-creating new CCC knowledge–generating ideas and solutions; (3) sharing knowledge ready for practice, and (4) CCC legacy and tools for transforming systems. Through a multi-actor approach, TransformDairyNet will bring science and practice together to create a comprehensive CCC knowledge map, champion farmer-led innovation and share practice to upskill European dairy farmers and advisors at differences stages of adoption. TransformDairyNet will build resilience and normalise and spread CCC practice by co-creating harmonised, farmer–facing tools, materials and peer-to-peer activities, leveraging trusted channels and networks and engaging with existing and new dairy and CCC focused EIP-AGRI Operational Groups. TransformDairyNet will work with EU FarmBook to maintain the Knowledge and Innovation Networks beyond the project as a community of practice, able to pivot to other issues for the continued transition to sustainable dairy production into the future. Looking forward, TransformDairyNet will provide insights and recommendations for the acceleration of other novel agricultural practices with high citizen and practitioner demand, through reflecting on the thematic network processes.