Fighting antimicrobial resistance through knowledge and action

One way that SLU has been spreading knowledge and raising awareness about AMR is through a widely spread Massive open online course called "Effective Livestock Production with Low Use of Antibiotics" created by SLU Professor Ulf Magnusson and Veterinarian Sandra Nohrborg. The course is free of charge and open to anyone. 

By taking the course, you will learn how basic disease preventive measures, in combination with low and medically rational use of antibiotics, can sustain or even increase livestock productivity and limit the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Some of the questions you will find answers to during the course are:

Why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a problem?

What can you do to prevent disease?

How should you use antibiotics?

How do you combine disease prevention and a low use of antibiotics?

Information about the course

The course has been running 2019-2021 and was thereafter paused, updated and started again in August 2024. Throughout the years, the course has had almost 4500 enrolments from across the globe. Participants from 161 countries with the highest numbers of enrolments from UK, Nigeria and India. The overall grading has been 4.7 out of 5.

Target groups are livestock keepers and professionals working in the livestock production sector (such as veterinarians and advisors) in low-income countries and emerging economies worldwide. The course might also be of interest for agricultural authorities in those countries and interested members of the public who wish to learn more about this important area.

Links

Find out more about SLU’s engagement here.

We also encourage you to check out the AMR page of FAO.

Facts AMR

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem worldwide and is a threat to the health of animals and humans. Also, for food security and nutrition, the economy for farmers and the environment and climate, we need an efficient livestock production, which in turn requires healthy animals. In many countries, this has led to an extensive and often inappropriate use of antibiotics, which may contribute to increasing antibiotic resistance.