International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics

An international symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics, Challenges and Solutions in Animal Production is being organised by the International Alliance for Biological Standardization (IABS), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for September, 2012.

Antibiotics are essential tools for animal and human health and concerns over antibiotic resistance and their prudent use in animals have garnered global interest. Yet insufficient attention has been given to the scientific breakthroughs and novel technologies that provide alternatives to antibiotics. The objectives of this symposium is to highlight promising research results and novel technologies that provide alternatives to antibiotics, assess challenges associated with their commercialization and use, and provide actionable strategies to support their development.

The symposium will focus on the latest scientific breakthroughs and technologies that provide new options and alternative strategies for preventing and treating diseases of animals. Some of these new technologies have direct applications as medical interventions for human health, but the focus of the symposium is animal production, animal health, and food safety. The following five areas will be explored in detail through scientific presentations and expert panel discussions:

1. Alternatives to antibiotics: lessons from nature
2. Altering innate defense mechanisms to enhance disease resistance
3. The gut microbiome and immune development, health and diseases
4. Alternatives to antibiotics for use as growth promotants
5. Regulatory pathways to enable the licensure of alternatives to antibiotics

Attendess should include scientists, regulators, and industry representatives who have a stake in the success of animal agriculture and public health, need access to the latest scientific information and technologies, and want to interact with the current leaders in the field. For more information and to register, please visit www.alternativestoantibiotics.org.