Inaugration of FAO Reference Center workshop held at Nitte University

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, November 18, 2024: FAO established FAO Reference Centers on Antimicrobial Resistance and  Aquaculture Biosecurity in four countries – USA, UK, China and India. The Indian  Center is located in Nitte DU, Mangalore. As per the Terms of Reference of the  Designation, the Reference Centers are to support FAO in:
• Creating awareness about antimicrobial resistance

• Build capacity in mitigating antimicrobial resistance

• Support strengthening governance related to antimicrobial use and  antimicrobial resistance

• Promote good aquaculture practices and prudent use of antimicrobials

United Nations has declared November 18-24 as Antibiotic awareness week. The  theme of this Antibiotic Awareness Week is Educate, Advocate, Act Now. In line  with the terms of reference of FAO Reference Center, Nitte University is celebrating  antibiotic awareness week by organizing an international hands on Workshop on  “Utilising microbiome and genomic resources for understanding and mitigating  antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture in one health context”. This is being organized  in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. Dr.  Vinaya Hegde, Chancellor, Nitte University will preside in the presence of Vice  Chancellor, Dr. M.S. Moodithaya. Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General, ICAR is  he Chief Guest and Dr. Eduardo Leano, Director General of the Network of  Aquaculture Centers in Asia Pacific (NACA) based in Thailand is the Guest of  Honour. Other Guests of Honour include Dr. Karthikeyan, Director, MPEDA and Dr.  Robin Paul, FAO India. FAO Headquaters in Rome will be represented by Dr. Melba  Reantaso and FAO Reference Center in UK is represented by Dr Athina  Papadopoulou and the US Reference Center is represented by Dr Hossam  Abdelhamed from Mississippi State University, USA. The Workshop will have  resource persons from Italy, Norway, Philippines, and Sweden. Delegates from  Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka,  Tanzania, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Zambia are attending this workshop. The  Principal investigators of ICAR Network project on antimicrobial resistance will be  participating. There will be lectures from Dr. Anuj Sharma, WHO India and Dr.  Pragya Yadav, Director, One Health Institute, India.  

The Workshop is being supported by UNESCO, Center for Environment, Fisheries  and Aquaculture Sciences, UK, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and  Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

The workshop involves both wet lab as well as bioinformatics sessions and it is hoped  that after this training, a number of countries could implement standardized methods  for detecting antimicrobial resistance and promote prudent and responsible use of  antimicrobials in one health.