Getting to Know OH: The podcast series where public health’s questions meet One Health answers for the fight against AMR
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jan Sargeant who chaired the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences’ expert panel on AMR in food-producing animals. Our guest shares updates from the panel’s in-depth assessment and newly released report, which supports the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on AMR, and what it means for antimicrobial stewardship in agriculture.
The discussion highlights how veterinarians and producers are working to use antibiotics more responsibly. We also discuss current gaps in surveillanceand data and why filling them is critical. Tune in to learn how Canada’s One Health approach is evolving, the challenges that remain, and innovative strategies to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials for people and animals alike.
Resources
Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) Expert Panel Report (2025): As discussed in this episode, this comprehensive report on AMR and AMU in food animals was produced by an expert panel chaired by Dr. Jan Sargeant, with support from CFIA and PHAC. The report provides 15 key findings across seven areas, including AMR transmission pathways, antimicrobial stewardship practices, surveillance gaps, and impacts of reducing AMU. It outlines strategic interventions to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship in Canadian livestock production. (Published in English and French.)
Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS): An ongoing surveillance program run by the Public Health Agency of Canada that collects, analyzes, and communicates trends in AMU and AMR for bacteria from humans, food animals, and retail meat across Canada. CIPARS publishes annual integrated reports and provides interactive data visualizations to help stakeholders explore surveillance data (e.g. farm antibiotic use by species/region, resistance patterns in zoonotic bacteria). Note that CIPARS data also contribute to PHAC’s broader Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System reports.
Health Canada – AMR in Animals: Health Canada’s veterinary drugs program provides an online hub detailing how federal regulators are addressing AMR in animals. This resource covers policies and regulations promoting responsible use of antimicrobials in agriculture – for example, the 2018 removal of growth promotion claims from medically important antimicrobials and requirements for veterinary prescriptions. It also includes information on surveillance of veterinary antimicrobial sales, controls on personal importation of animal medications, and the encouragement of alternatives (like vaccines and veterinary health products) to reduce reliance on antibiotics.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) – AMR Education and Oversight: The CFIA outlines its role in combating AMR in animals, providing educational materials for practitioners and producers. Its public resources include videos and infographics for veterinarians, livestock owners, and pet owners on how to minimize the risk of AMR through proper antimicrobial use and biosecurity. In support of Canada’s AMR action plan, CFIA is also involved in initiatives such as establishing targets for prudent on-farm antimicrobial use and modernizing feed regulations to curb AMR in the agri-food sector.