PIG-PARADIGM

PIG-PARADIGM is an international, cross-institutional and interdisciplinary AMR (antimicrobial resistance) project. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming one of the greatest global health threats, and the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials are accelerating the spread of AMR. In the pig production industry, a major part of antibiotic usage is related to treatment of enteric infections. Now with DKK 150 million (€20.1 million) of funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, PIG-PARADIGM has brought together scientists from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States, aiming to improve intestinal robustness and resilience in developing piglets by advancing fundamental knowledge of the pig gut microbiome and its interaction with nutrition and the host. New knowledge on how to strengthen piglets’ natural defense will form the basis for the development of industrial solutions in commercial pig production. These strategies will curtail the dependence on antibiotics, thereby contributing to the global effort to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. The reduction in antibiotic usage not only aligns with responsible farming practices but also enhances the image of animal agriculture.