The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has asked SLU (The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) to lead the way in developing a manual on prudent use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and to conduct courses for animal health personnel in the Balkans, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance, and the purpose of the mission is to help reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance in these regions. The Swedish model, with close cooperation between the agriculture sector, government and researchers, gives Sweden a prominent position among EU and OECD countries regarding low antibiotic use – only around 15 percent of Sweden´s antibiotics are used in animal husbandry, compared to the global estimate, over 50 percent.