UN Food and Agriculture Organization formalizes agreement designating Mississippi State as Reference Center on AMR and Aquaculture Biosecurity
Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is designating ݮƵ as an FAO Reference Center on AMR and Aquaculture Biosecurity.
The university has a long history of leading expertise in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture and previously has collaborated with the FAO in the areas of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance (AMU/AMR), as well as aquaculture biosecurity and aquatic animal health.
ݮƵProvost and Executive Vice President David Shaw said in its role as an FAO Reference Center, ݮƵhas the scientific expertise and capacity to support the FAO’s mission to promote responsible use of antimicrobials in aquaculture to reduce AMR risk.
“ݮƵalso has the needed expertise to support FAO’s goals to promote responsible aquaculture practices and aquaculture biosecurity. We’re pleased to provide scientific and technical advice to FAO on these topics and to support FAO’s capacity development efforts related to responsible antimicrobial use and aquaculture biosecurity internationally,” Shaw said.
Shaw said the newly signed, four-year agreement demonstrates MSU’s global reach and “represents another step in the long-term collaborations between the FAO and ݮƵto promote development of sustainable aquaculture internationally for advancement of food and nutritional security.”
ݮƵPresident Mark E. Keenum has made food security a central focus of his tenure, and the university has increased its partnership work with the FAO over the last decade. In 2014, ݮƵwas recognized by the organization as a Center of Knowledge and member of the Global Aquaculture Advancement Partnership.
ݮƵVice President for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Keith Coble said “This is just one more example of ݮƵbeing an international leader in agricultural research.”
Included in the scope of work as an FAO Reference Center, ݮƵwill work to raise awareness about AMR, support developing capacity for surveillance of AMU, AMR and residues, support strengthening governance related to AMU/AMR and aquaculture biosecurity, promote responsible aquaculture practices and prudent use of antimicrobials, among other activities.
ݮƵalso is home of the funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and part of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative to reduce poverty and improve health outcomes for global populations dependent on aquaculture- and fisheries-led economies. ݮƵleads the lab through its Global Center for Aquatic Food Security, directed by Mark Lawrence, a professor in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
ݮƵis Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.