Red angus cattle on pasture expanded Red angus cattle on pasture expanded

International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA)

Advancing antimicrobial stewardship research in animal agriculture

Generating Production Systems Solutions
Advancing antimicrobial stewardship research in animal agriculture

Generating Production Systems Solutions

Science Program Contact

ICASA Team
icasa@foundationfar.org

ICASA Director
Dr. Miriam Martin LeValley

Partnerships & Development Contact

Lauren Hershey
lhershey@foundationfar.org

Accepting Pre-Applications. Preapplications are due 5 p.m. EDT, June 10, 2026.

Young pigs eating at trough

Open Opportunity

International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA) 2026 RFA

Pre-applications are due 5 p.m. EDT, June 10, 2026

Antimicrobial Stewardship in Animal Agriculture

Antibiotics are valuable tools for preventing, treating and controlling disease in animal production. Yet maintaining antibiotic efficacy is a highly complex issue that affects both human and animal health. The responsible and judicious use of antibiotics is a top priority in animal agriculture.

ICASA 2019-2025

FFAR established ICASA in 2019 with an initial $7.5 million investment to fund antimicrobial research in beef and swine that promotes targeted antibiotic use, advances animal health and welfare and increases transparency in food production practices. Participants and additional project–level partners matched our funds, resulting in a total investment of $15 million that funded research to advance antimicrobial stewardship. Learn more about these projects.

ICASA 2025-2030

In 2025, FFAR and several partners recommitted to ICASA to fund research that continues advancing antimicrobial stewardship. The Consortium welcomes interest from new participants. Participants will help determine the Consortium’s future research directions during its early stages of redevelopment.

ICASA’s Renewed Vision

Producing healthier livestock

ICASA’s investment in research creates practical solutions, such as new technologies and management practices, that promote judicious antibiotic use, produce healthier beef cattle and swine and improve animal welfare.

Consortium Participants

ICASA is a research consortium with representation across the U.S. beef and swine supply chains. The Consortium’s participants guide decisions on its research direction and new projects.

2025-2030

The Consortium’s current Executive Committee participants include: The Beef Alliance, FFAR, McDonald’s Corporation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Board, Pipestone Veterinary Services, Wholestone Prestage and Yum! Brands.

2019-2025

The Consortium’s Executive Committee participants included: Advanced Animal Diagnostics, the Beef Alliance, Cactus Research, FFAR, Genus plc, Hy-Plains Feedyard Research and Education Center, JBS USA, McDonald’s Corporation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Board, Noble Research Institute, Pipestone Veterinary Services, Tyson Foods, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Veterinary Research & Consulting Services. Associate Participants included Cargill, Production Animal Consultation, Yum! Brands and Zoetis.

Beef Alliance logo.
FFAR logo.
McDonald's logo.
NCBA logo.
Pork Checkoff
Pipestone vertical color logo.
Wholestone prestage logo
Yum Brands logo.

2026 ICASA Research Symposium

The ICASA Research Symposium & Reception, March 31-April 1, 2026, highlighted cutting-edge research, collaborative partnerships and innovative strategies driving responsible antibiotic use in livestock production. Through panel discussions, lightning talks and networking opportunities, participants explored emerging scientific advances and future directions for antimicrobial stewardship research. 

Industry research needs, listening session
Industry research needs, listening session
Macie Weigand, West Texas A&M University, presents lightning talk on ICASA-funded research
Macie Weigand, West Texas A&M University, presents lightning talk on ICASA-funded research
Dr. Hans Coetzee, Kansas State University Vice President for Research, provides welcoming reception remarks.
Dr. Hans Coetzee, Kansas State University Vice President for Research, provides welcoming reception remarks.
Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin, FFAR Executive Director, provides welcoming symposium remarks.
Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin, FFAR Executive Director, provides welcoming symposium remarks.
ICASA research project posters
ICASA research project posters
Kansas State University's Dr. Michael Apley gives a keynote address
Kansas State University's Dr. Michael Apley gives a keynote address
Panel 1: Aligning Cattle Research & Production
Panel 1: Aligning Cattle Research & Production
Panel 2: Promoting Judicious Antimicrobial Use
Panel 2: Promoting Judicious Antimicrobial Use
Panel 3: A One Health Perspective on Antimicrobial Use
Panel 3: A One Health Perspective on Antimicrobial Use
Kansas State University’s Dr. Brad White talks about his ICASA research
Kansas State University’s Dr. Brad White talks about his ICASA research
Purdue University’s Dr. Mohit Verma talks about his ICASA research
Purdue University’s Dr. Mohit Verma talks about his ICASA research
Purdue University’s Dr. Timothy Johnson talks about his ICASA research
Purdue University’s Dr. Timothy Johnson talks about his ICASA research
Pipestone Research’s Dr. Joel Nerem talks about his ICASA research
Pipestone Research’s Dr. Joel Nerem talks about his ICASA research
Thank you to the ICASA event sponsors
Thank you to the ICASA event sponsors

Industry research needs, listening session

Awarded Grants for the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA)

Decreasing pulmonary-associated mortality in feedlot cattle using refined case definitions and predictive analytics: emphasizing acute interstitial pneumonia and late day BRD

Year Awarded  2026

FFAR award amount   $1,223,474

Total award amount   $2,446,948

Location   Manhattan, KS

Matching Funders   Colorado State University; Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC; Innovative Livestock Services, LLC.; Kansas State University, Mississippi State University; Nanostring; Texas A&M University; and Veterinary Research & Consulting Services, LLC.

Grantee Institution   Kansas State University

Lungs as a potential source and relationships of ruminal, colonic & fecal concentrations of fusobacterium necrophorum to liver abscesses in feedlot cattle

Year Awarded  2026

FFAR award amount   $101,983

Total award amount   $203,965

Location   Manhattan, KS

Matching Funders   Cargill, Kansas State University & Yum! Brands

Grantee Institution   Kansas State University

Antimicrobial resistance & use tracking through swine production flows on farms in the upper Midwest of the US

Year Awarded  2026

FFAR award amount   $138,672

Total award amount   $277,344

Location   Pipestone, MN

Matching Funders   Merck, National Pork Board, PIC & Pipestone Research

Grantee Institution   Pipestone Research

See all Awarded Grants

The Latest

Insights

Our Insights highlight unique perspectives from across the food and agriculture community.

See all Insights

Going Native 

Olufunke Robinson-Nweye

FFAR Fellow, Washington State University

H5N1 Risk to Swine 

Drs. Miriam Martin LeValley, Megan Niederwerder & Lisa Becton

Balancing the Books 

Field sampling for soil carbon analysis and bulk density measurements.

Tayin Wang

FFAR Fellow, Colorado State University

Making Feed Safer for Livestock 

Theo Newbold

FFAR Fellow, Penn State University

Fall Migratory Birds Spread HPAI 

Jasmine Bruno

Jasmine Bruno, Ph.D.

Scientific Program DirectorCultivating Thriving Production Systems

 Amplifying  Impact Through Research Partnerships 

Jasmine Bruno

Jasmine Bruno, Ph.D.

Scientific Program DirectorCultivating Thriving Production Systems

It’s Not Just A Trend 

Maria Rottersman

FFAR Fellow, UC Davis

Smarter Pest Management for Soybean 

Taynara Possebom

2024-2027 FFAR Fellows

H5N1 Risk to Swine Research Program 

Drs. Jasmine Bruno & Megan Niederwerder

Thriving Beef Calves in the Southeastern US 

Federico Tarnonsky

FFAR Fellow (2022-2025), University of Florida

Time Teaches Biosecurity Importance 

Kevin Schulz

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer/Farm Progress

A Game Changer for Dairy’s Future 

Dr. Juan Tricarico

Dr. Juan Tricarico

Senior Vice President, Environmental Research, Dairy Management Inc.

Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Dairy Cattle 

Francisco Penagaricano headshot

Dr. Francisco Peñagaricano and Dr. Guillermo Martinez Boggio

Let’s Raise a Glass 

Krysta Harden headshot

Krysta Harden

President and CEO U.S. Dairy Export Council

Building Team Chemistry 

Conor McCabe headshot

Conor McCabe

Animal Biology Graduate Student, UC Davis

Insight on Livestock Methane Mitigation 

Dr. Rod Mackie

Dr. Rod Mackie, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

Champaign, IL

Indigenous Farmers are Leading a “New Green Revolution” 

James DeDecker, Director, Michigan State University – Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center Mary Donner, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians – Ziibimijwang Farm Executive Director and Tribal Citizen

FFAR Vet Student Fellow Research Spotlight 

Agricultural study in progress.

Anna Schaubeck

2021 FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellow

Celebrating Innovation on National Egg Day 

Paul Montgomery

Paul Montgomery

Director of Communications, United Egg Producers

News

The latest news and updates from FFAR.

See all News

Funding Opportunity to Advance Antimicrobial Stewardship in Animal Agriculture 

New Research Aims to Refine Antibiotic Use in Beef & Swine 

FFAR Rapid Funding to Develop an Avian Flu Vaccine for Livestock 

Mitigating Airborne Transmission of Avian Flu 

SHIC, FFAR and Pork Checkoff Issue Second H5N1 Swine Risk RFP 

Assessing Feed Additive for Methane Reduction 

Cameras & AI Could Enhance Poultry Welfare & Industry Productivity 

Understanding HPAI Transmission Risk on Dairy Farms 

Common Sheep & Goat Deworming Treatment Is Largely Ineffective 

FFAR Develops Decontamination Strategy for HPAI-Infected Milk 

FFAR Spurs Tool to Test for Bird Flu 

FFAR Funds Partnership to Accelerate Soybean Development 

FFAR Rapid Funding to Protect Cattle from Asian Longhorned Tick 

Wild Tomatoes to Combat Agriculture Threats 

FFAR Research Improves Cattle Reproduction 

FFAR Grant Develops Solutions to Prevalent & Costly Dairy Cow Lameness 

FFAR, SHIC & Pork Checkoff Fund H5N1 Swine Research Projects 

FFAR Research Aims to Protect Dairy Cattle Against H5N1 

FFAR Names Seventh Cohort of Veterinary Fellows 

FFAR Grants to Optimize Crop Development & Yield 

Breakthroughs

Tools, technologies and strategies from the research we fund.

See all Breakthroughs

High Protein Chickpeas for the Ingredient Industry 

Breakthrough for FFAR Grant Improves Chickpeas’ Protein Content & Quality

Estimating Weights of Broiler Chickens with AI 

Breakthrough for Flockfocus – Developing Automated Surveillance Tools to Safeguard Chicken Welfare

Safeguarding the Future of Mid-Atlantic Viticulture 

Breakthrough for Developing Novel Strategies for Improved Control and Sustainability of Grapevine Bunch Rot Management

Developing Strawberry Resistance to Fusarium Wilt 

Breakthrough for Developing Strawberry Resistance to Fusarium Wilt

Enhancing Swine Biosecurity in the Wean-to-Harvest Phase 

Breakthrough for SHIC Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program Moving Forward

Unlocking Genetic Heat Tolerance in Cattle 

Breakthrough for Precision Bred Adaptation of Elite Taurine Breeds of Beef & Dairy Cattle

Accelerating Crop Development with Improved Haploid Fertility 

Breakthrough for Accelerated Development of Crops of the Future

Radiography could transform poultry breeding 

Breakthrough for FFAR Awards $1.4 Million to Purdue University, University of California, Davis and University of Edinburgh Researchers to Improve Health and Productivity of Egg-Laying Hens

Why Dairy Cows Produce Less Milk in Warm Weather 

Breakthrough for FFAR Grant Helps Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows Weather Increasing Temperatures

Getting to the Root of the Problem: Fastidious Pathogens 

Breakthrough for A Novel Bioassay for Culturing and Characterizing Fastidious Phytopathogens

Feed Additives Stop Viral Disease Spread 

Breakthrough for FFAR-Funded Research Finds Feed Additives Stop the Spread of Viral Diseases

Initial Successes in Ending Surgical Castration of Swine 

Breakthrough for FFAR Awards $500,000 Grant to Improve Swine Health and Well-Being

ID: ICASALAWG-0000000062, ICASASHTWG0000000085, ICASASHTWG0000000090, ICASALAWG-0000000060, ICASALAWG-0000000057, ICASALAWG-0000000061, ICASALAWG-0000000064, ICASASHTWG0000000082, ICASATWG-0000000038