International Training Program on Antimicrobial Resistance was organised by FAO at ICAR-CIFT

International Training Program on Antimicrobial Resistance was organised by FAO at ICAR-CIFT

The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) hosted a three-day international training program on the FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Systems (FAO ATLASS). Organized by the Microbiology, Fermentation, and Biotechnology Division of ICAR-CIFT, the event aimed to train researchers on using the FAO ATLASS tool to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the program brought together 31 researchers from the Indian Network for Fisheries and Animal Sciences on Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR).

Dr. George Ninan, Director of ICAR-CIFT, inaugurated the training program and underscored the critical need to address AMR in the fisheries and animal sciences sectors. He highlighted the growing challenge of AMR in these fields and the importance of capacity-building initiatives to combat it effectively. Senior officials, including  Dr. Nicolas Keck and Dr.Michael Treilles from   FAO Rome, Dr. Mary Joy Gordoncillo from FAO Regional Asia Pacific, and Dr.Jyoti Misri, Mr. Rajesh Dubey and Dr.Robin Pail  from FAO, India are providing technical guidance to the participants.

The training covered the application of the FAO ATLASS tool in laboratory settings and surveillance systems, aiming to strengthen India’s capabilities in monitoring and addressing AMR in fisheries and animal sciences. The program is expected to significantly enhance the knowledge and skills of researchers, contributing to better containment strategies for AMR in these critical sectors.

                              Dr. George Ninan, Director of ICAR-CIFT, inaugurating the international training program on FAO ATLASS. Also                                  seen are officials from FAO Rome, FAO Regional Asia Pacific, and FAO India.