The USDA has distributed $3.2 million among nine cooperating entities to establish systems to monitor emerging antimicrobial resistance.  Recipients will include the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Cornell University and seven other Land-Grant Institutions.  The objectives of the project will include: -

• Developing antimicrobial resistance dashboards to track the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in livestock.
• Maintaining data confidentiality associated with the dashboards to be developed.
• Evaluating data management.

In a statement, USDA-APHIS stated, “Addressing antimicrobial resistance is important to APHIS along with the agriculture and public health sectors because antimicrobials are some of the most critical tools for treating serious infections and saving the lives of people and animals.  Taking a One Health approach detecting complex human and animal health challenges such as this is imperative.”

The funding was appropriated by Congress to be disbursed during Fiscal Years 2021 through 2023.

It is questioned why USDA is sponsoring the development of antimicrobial resistance dashboards.  Surely, this should be a function of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This Agency is responsible for the registration of antibiotics and approving labels that determine species and dose and enforcement of compliance.