With the final programme for RUMA’s third biennial conference on October 29 now published, it has been confirmed that early bird ticket sales at the discounted rate of £175 will close at midnight September 30.
From October 1, tickets will revert to the full £200 price.
Using the theme ‘Building on Success’, the conference will examine whether recent progress in stewarding antibiotics can be maintained, and what needs to be done to better support global efforts to battle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Headlining the event will be American journalist and author on public and global health and food policy Maryn McKenna, who will be dissecting the role of the public and media in driving change in medicine stewardship.
The Food Standards Agency will be represented at a RUMA conference for the first time, with its chair Heather Hancock opening proceedings by outlining the regulator’s vision for safe, healthy food built on farm systems which are modern, productive and demonstrate responsible use of medicines.
As at the last conference, the latest antibiotic sales data for farm animals are expected to be released by the Veterinary Medicine Directorate’s (VMD) head of Antimicrobial Resistance Dr Kitty Healey, who will also provide recent surveillance findings for antibiotic-resistance genes within farm animals and their food products, and will discuss how the industry can maintain progress and lead the world in responsible use.
While antibiotic use and AMR remain key themes in the event, broader aspects of farm animal health and welfare, emerging resistance in other pathogens and wider challenges presented by disease will be debated.
To provide insight in these areas, the following have also been confirmed as speakers:
- Stuart Roberts, NFU;
- Dr Shabbir Simjee, RUMA Independent Scientific Group;
- Duncan Sinclair, British Retail Consortium;
- Aarti Ramachandran, FAIRR;
- Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Moredun Research Institute;
- Dr Simon Doherty, British Veterinary Association,
Dr Christine Middlemiss, the Chief Veterinary Officer, will be concluding the event with a summary of the learnings from the day and a call to action for the next two years.
