Behaviour change interventions for responsible antimicrobial use on farms

Area of Science:

• Animal Health Science
• Behavioural Science
• One Health

Background:

• Upcoming European governance changes necessitate strategies to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• A gap exists in translating behavioural research into practical interventions for farmers and veterinarians regarding antimicrobial use.
• This study addresses the need for bottom-up approaches to complement top-down policies for AMR mitigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify, understand, and change farmer and veterinarian behaviours related to responsible antimicrobial use.
• To bridge the gap between behavioural research and practical implementation of AMR reduction strategies.
• To develop evidence-based behaviour change interventions for the agricultural sector.

Main Methods:

• An interdisciplinary, multi-actor approach combining behavioural and animal health sciences.
• A co-design, participatory method incorporating tacit knowledge from stakeholders.
• Analysis of scientific evidence and stakeholder feedback for intervention development.

Main Results:

• Seven behaviour change interventions were recommended to support good animal health practices and reduce antimicrobial use.
• Interventions include message framing, One Health awareness campaigns, communication training, on-farm tools, social support, and antimicrobial use monitoring.
• Each intervention is detailed with its scientific basis, behavioural science concepts, and stakeholder-validated design.

Conclusions:

• The developed behaviour change interventions are adaptable for practical implementation by the agri-food community.
• These interventions aim to foster responsible antimicrobial use and improve animal health on European farms.
• Successful adoption can contribute to combating the One Health threat of antimicrobial resistance.