International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA)
Advancing antimicrobial stewardship research in animal agriculture.
Generating Advanced Animal Agriculture Solutions
Program Contact
Nikki Dutta
ndutta@foundationfar.org
Development Contact
Lauren Hershey
lhershey@foundationfar.org
ICASA is collaborating across the supply chain to pioneer technologies and management practices that promote judicious antibiotics use and produce healthier livestock.
ICASA research focuses on:
- Development of technologies and management practices that reduce the need for using antibiotic medications in livestock, refine judicious-use decision making and/or replace antibiotics with alternative strategies.
- Design diverse approaches to reducing diseases that are major drivers of antibiotic use.
- Create precision monitoring technologies that improve health, welfare and stewardship.
- Explore the impact of antibiotic use on the development of antibiotic resistance.
Addressing Antibiotic Stewardship in Animal Agriculture
Antibiotics are extremely valuable tools for preventing, treating and controlling disease in livestock production.
Yet, maintaining the efficacy of antibiotics is a highly complex issue, affecting both human and animal health. The responsible and judicious use of antibiotics is a top priority for livestock producers.
We established ICASA in 2019 with an initial $7.5 million investment to fund antimicrobial research that promotes targeted antibiotic use, advances animal health and welfare and increases transparency in food production practices. Private sector participants match our funds, resulting in a total investment of $15 million.
Unlike other groups working on antibiotic stewardship, ICASA participants represent all stages of the US livestock supply chain. Only through this level of collaboration can we significantly impact antibiotic use across the supply chain.
ICASA participants guide decisions on new projects and the consortium’s research direction. The Consortium collaboratively investigates the underlying causes of animal health issues, develops practical solutions that protects that efficacy of these medications and improves our understanding of the factors that contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance.
ICASA’s Vision
Producing healthier livestock
ICASA’s investment in research creates practical solutions, such as new technologies and management practices that promote judicious use of antibiotics, produce healthier livestock and improve animal welfare.
Consortium Partners
ICASA is the first research consortium to bring together participants representing all stages of the US livestock supply chain. The Consortium’s Executive Committee Participants include: Advanced Animal Diagnostics, the Beef Alliance, Cactus Research, FFAR, Genus plc, Hy-Plains Feedyard Research and Education Center, JBS USA, McDonald’s, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Pork Board, Noble Research Institute, Pipestone Veterinary Services, Tyson Foods, the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Veterinary Research & Consulting Services. Associate Participants include Cargill, Zoetis, Yum! Brands and Production Animal Consultation.
Associate Members
Related News about International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA)
ICASA: Antimicrobial Use Monitoring and Benchmarking in U.S. Feedyards
Awarded Amount $200,000
Year 2022
Matching Funders Cargill, Kansas State University, Tyson Foods and Yum! Brands
ICASA: Fecal microbiota transplant to reduce post-weaning diarrhea and antibiotic use
Awarded Amount $140,001
Year 2022
Matching Funders National Pork Board and Purdue University
ICASA: Defining the contribution of acidosis to the liver abscess complex using novel challenge model to delineate impacts of diet composition and feeding management on liver abscess pathogenesis
Awarded Amount $266,748
Year 2022
Matching Funders Cactus Feeders and West Texas A&M University