The AMAST (AMr in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary) Network

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifaceted, wicked problem. Evolution of resistant microbes can arise anywhere along agrifood chains, leading to diseases that cannot be treated by currently used medicines. Human, animal, plant and environmental health are interconnected; actions such as antimicrobial use (AMU) in one sector, may influence AMR arising in another. National and global movements of people, animals and goods therefore creates a web of factors that influence AMR, necessitating systems-based approaches to effectively tackle problems. AMR transcends disciplinary boundaries, requiring collaboration amongst human and veterinary healthcare professionals, researchers from multiple disciplines, policymakers, regulators and the agriculture sector.

The benefit of the AMAST (AMr in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary) Network is that it brings together, for the first time, actors from diverse backgrounds across agrifood systems to co-develop solutions to AMR challenges through collaboration, dialogue and action.

Our aims are to CREATE a transdisciplinary community that bridges the range of research expertise, working together and directly with industry and policymakers, to collectively consider complex configurations in agrifood systems. We will HARNESS the collective strength of experience and expertise of our members to fully understand the challenges and opportunities to mitigate AMR in agrifood including across production systems, such as crop, livestock and aquaculture. From this understanding, and the collaborative resolve established amongst the AMAST membership, we will PREPAREnew systems-level frameworks for transdisciplinary research and partnership that acknowledge the dynamic interactions between actors within those agrifood systems. These frameworks will be used to guide understanding on (new) interventions on AMU and other AMR-promoting practices, that will lead to reductions in AMR in targeted agrifood subsystems, whilst minimising unintended consequences in others to achieve holistically beneficial outcomes.

AMAST has been initiated by researcher coalition and partners from across the United Kingdom, representing agrifood-related trade and farming associations, agrifood research and innovation institutes, business development consultants, food-sector networks, government-led AMR surveillance initiatives, and other AMR-focussed networks. The formation and progression of AMAST will be guided by an expert panel, sharing their perspectives on AMR and connections related to infectious disease, aquaculture, livestock, food systems, food safety and transdisciplinary research partnering approaches.

Core activities encompassed in 11 objectives at the outset of AMAST will be driven by meaningful engagement between industry, policy and academic researchers in a series of directed-events to understand varying perspectives, expertise and accompanying evidence on current food production processes that exacerbate AMR; and the challenges of moving away from current practices to mitigate AMR without compromising yield, quality and welfare. These events will include stakeholder interviews, workshops, and horizon-scanning activities, knowledge synthesis and authentically focused knowledge-exchange outputs such as perspective ('white') papers. These activities will inform subsequent programming to be developed within AMAST, including use of AMAST Flexible Funds supporting collaborative activities such as targeted researcher and industry short-term-scientific-missions, an AMAST Fellowship training that is authentic to AMR challenges, and further knowledge synthesis activities. Visibility of AMAST outputs and capacity building within and outside the network will occur using a tailored communication strategy and creative multimedia.